Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
OVERVIEW | TICKS ON DOGS PICTURES | TYPES OF TICKS | HOW TO REMOVE TICKS | VET Q&A
What You Need to Know:
Ticks are small gray dots that appear on a dog's skin. There are several tick species that cause problems in dogs, with the Deer tick best known because of its relationship to spreading Lyme disease. Ticks are found in moist, dark parts of the body such as between the toes, ears, eyes, neck, armpits, hind legs, and at the tail base.
There are 6 major types of infections associated with ticks the most common being Lyme disease. Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi and is primarily caused by Deer ticks and Black-legged ticks. Not all ticks carry Lyme disease and only 5% to 10% of exposed dogs show any symptoms. Problems usually occur from May through August, but can happen on any day that is above the freezing mark. New tests (Lyme Multiplex Assay) can detect the disease in 3 weeks after exposure as opposed to older tests which took 4 to 6 weeks.
As ticks take the dog's blood they become enlarged, making them easier to spot on the skin. Dogs do not get the bull's eye rash seen on human skin. Symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs can include swollen joints and lymph nodes, a dog demonstrating lameness, or shifting from leg to leg. A dog may have a fever, experience appetite loss, or will act lethargic. In chronic cases, kidney failure can develop, a condition that may be fatal. Diagnosis is initially via a physical examination and then confirmed by a blood test.
Treatment involves removing the tick as quickly as possible since studies suggest that for most infection types, the time to infection on average is 24 to 48 hours (see table below) depending on the type of tick. Treatment involves the use of an antibiotic called doxycycline, which is prescribed for an entire month.
Dogs can be protected via the use of a spot-on or collar.
Ticks on Dogs Pictures
Tick Time to Infection
If a tick is removed from a dog before 24 hours there is little to no risk of infection. Infection can spread when the tick starts feeding between 24 and 48 hours. For this reason, it is important to continually check your dog and remove ticks immediately.
| Infection | Tick | Time to Infection |
|---|---|---|
| Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme Disease) | Ixodes ticks (also known as Deer Ticks or Black -legged Ticks) | 48 - 72 hours, less in B. afzelli |
| Rickettsia rickettsii | Dermacentor ticks (also known as the American Dog Ticks or Wood Tick. | 5 - 20 hours |
| Ehrlichia canis and other Ehrlichia species | Lone Star Tick (primary carrier) | Unknown |
| Babesia gibsoni and other piroplasms | Deer Ticks (primary carrier) | Unknown |
Rickettsia (Anaplasmosis or Ehrlichlosis)
Rickettsia is a disease spread by ticks throughout the world. There are several bacterial species and more than one can infect your dog at one time.
Rickettsia symptoms indicated a dog is sick include:
- Lethargy due to anemia
- Poor appetite
- Bruising under the skin (due to platelet damage)
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Painful joints
Other symptoms that are less common include:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
Note: a dog owner can contract Rickettsia and will have similar symptoms
Diagnosis is confirmed with an antibody assay blood test or blood smear.
Treatment involves antibiotics (doxycycline) for a month.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is a type of rickettsia spread by ticks. This disease causes the symptoms listed above plus:
- Weakness
- Wobbly gait
- Seizures
Babesiosis
A variety of ticks can cause Babesiosis. The parasite causes anemia by attaching to red blood cells. It is spread from infected ticks or from an infected dog that bites your dog.
Symptoms of Babesiosis in dogs include:
- Lethargy
- Poor appetite or an unwillingness to eat
- Enlarged spleen
A healthy dog's immune system should be able to fight Babesiosis without medications. Dogs that had their spleens removed are at the highest risk.
Diagnosis is via a blood smear or blood test.
Treatment depends on the type of bacteria detected but can include the medications azithromycin or imidocarb.
Diagnosis of Tick-Borne Diseases
If the veterinarian can find a tick on a pet's skin, he will determine the exact species by sending it to a lab. A PCR test can detect any pathogens in the tick.\
In addition to the above, the veterinarian will do a physical examination, review symptoms, and do a blood test to confirm any preliminary diagnosis. A veterinarian may choose to treat the suspected cause with antibiotics prior to confirming the diagnosis with a blood test.
Types of Ticks
Several types of ticks attach to dogs, carry disease and transmit diseases to dogs. These include:
American Dog Tick
Source: American Veterinary Association
The American Dog Tick is found in the eastern U.S. and the plains States. It can also be found on the West coast. The American Dog Tick can transmit disease. This includes:
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever ((Rickettsia rickettsii): bacterial disease that causes fever, lethargy and respiratory issues such as cough.
- Ehrlichiosis: bacterial disease causing lethargy, appetite loss, fever.
- Babesiosis: caused by protozoa which cause jaundice/yellowing of the skin, vomiting, fever and weakness.
- Tick paralysis: paralysis starts with hind legs and then causes chest and diaphragm paralysis. This toxin will cause death if the tick is not removed.
Treatment for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is with tetracycline derivatives for 14 to 21 days. The prognosis for dogs with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is fair with death occurring in less than 5% of dogs.(2)
Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum)
The Lone Star Tick is found in the South, Midwest, and Eastern United States in areas where you find white-tailed deer. This tick can transmit several types of bacteria to dogs such as ehrlichiosis (canine monocytotropic ehrlichiosis), a bacterial disease that causes enlarged lymph nodes, bleeding, vomiting, and lethargy.
Unexposed ticks must feed on a dog with the disease to become infected and then perpetuate the disease. Clinical symptoms in dogs are rare. Most symptoms are due to immune system reactions to the organism.
Treatment involves supportive care using antibiotics such as doxycycline or tetracycline. Doxycycline is provided for at least 28 days. It is unknown if ehrlichial infections are cleared by treatment. Antibody tests (titers) usually become negative after 1 year in therapy.
Deer Tick (Black-Legged Tick, Ixodes scapularis)
The deer tick is found in the Northern Midwest, East, and Southeast Canada. It can cause several diseases in dogs, the best known being Lyme Disease. Blood tests can detect exposure but do not prove the presence of illness. Tests can stay positive for months or years after treatment.
Dogs that test positive and that have clinical signs of disease are generally treated with doxycycline (10 mg/kg q24h for 1 month). Some dogs might need to be treated for a longer period of time as well as receive a special diet if there are any signs of kidney disease.
The Lyme Disease vaccine is controversial and is not generally administered by Veterinarians.
Brown Dog Tick
Brown Dog Ticks are larger than
Black-legged deer ticks. That said, Tick Bites from Deer Ticks are Considered to be More Dangerous.The Brown dog tick is named for its' color. These ticks live indoors and infest dogs kennels and usually do not bite pet owners. It is found anywhere in the world in warmer climates.
The tick has the following characteristics:
- Gray-blue after feeding, red/brown before feeding
- Adult ticks have eight legs, younger ticks (larvae, nymphs) have 6 legs
- Oval flat shape
- No antennae
- 1/8" before feeding
- 1/2" when engorged after feeding
Follow the instructions below to remove a brown dog tick.
How to Remove a Tick From a Dog
Removing ticks from dogs should be done within 24 hours to prevent the spread of bacterial or parasite infection from the tick to the dog. The best way to remove a tick from a dog is to follow these easy steps. Even if the tick is attached longer, the odds of infection are small.
What You Will Need
- Cotton balls
- Tweezers or a tick removal tool such as the Tick-off Remover (tool is under $10).
- Small clear container that can be sealed.
- Skin Disinfectant such as hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, or an antibiotic ointment.
- Gloves such as latex kitchen gloves
Steps for Tick Removal from Dog Skin
- Put on the gloves and soak the cotton balls with hydrogen peroxide. Wipe around the area where the tick is located to keep any bacteria that is outside the tick bite area from entering the area where you remove the tick. Write down the time and date you are removing the tick for future reference by a veterinarian if needed.
- Using tweezers that have a thin end or a commercial tick removal tool, grasp the tick's body at the head and pull at a 90-degree angle (straight out) from the body. Press against the skin of your dog, but don't pinch the skin. Don't squeeze the tick so hard that fluid can escape from the tick. The tick should come right off.
If the head is buried deep into the skin, it may not come off when you pull. If you can't easily remove it, leave it in place. A small red bump may form over it which will go away in 2 to 3 days. Place the tick into a clear container.
Once the tick is removed put it in alcohol, flush it down the toilet or if live, put it in alcohol, seal the container and dispose of it.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
3. Clean the Area where the tick was removed with the ointment or hydrogen peroxide. Keep an eye on the area to ensure that it doesn't become infected.
Do not use tick folk remedies such as using hydrogen peroxide alone for tick removal, nail polish or Vaseline (petroleum jelly), or using heat to make the tick detach from the skin. Always remove a tick as soon as possible.
Removing Multiple Ticks from Dogs
If your dog is outdoors and is covered with multiple ticks, consider using a Preventic collar. It will kill and detach ticks as well as sterilizes fleas and kills flea eggs for three months. Effective within 24 hours and continues to actively kill for three months as long as the collar is worn. The only problem is that you'll have to continually clean your dog's bedding and vacuum the area to ensure that the dead ticks are picked up.
With the collar, you may also want the added protection of a spray such as Frontline Spray or a shampoo designed to kill and repel ticks. Products can be used in combination, however, you should check the labels to make sure each is compatible with the other.
As an alternative to remove ticks dog, you can buy a dip. A dip is messy to use and creates toxic fumes. You can purchase one to use at home or have this done at your veterinarian's office.
Dog Tick Prevention
If your dog only stays around your property, then the key to tick prevention is to remove tick food, which is small and large mammals. This includes everything from deer (which is why they are called deer ticks) to small mammals such as mice. While fences can be used to keep deer away, mice are a bit trickier. One humane and safe approach is to buy a product called Eco Health Damminix Lyme Control Packs. These packets are placed around your backyard and attract mice. The mice then bring them back to their nests as building material. Each packet contains a poison that only kills the ticks, not the mice.
You can also help prevent ticks by keeping your yard free of tall weeds, grass, and debris where ticks might hide. Ticks prefer being on higher ground to make it easier to jump onto a host. It is harder for a tick to jump on your dog if the grass is cut low to the ground, plus they prefer to stay out of this type of area in favor of wooded areas.
You can also protect your dog before she goes outside. This can be accomplished with products such as Frontline Plus and other tick control products that contain ingredients such as pyrethrins, permethrin, or D-limonene. See the Companion Animal Parasite Council product list of tick preventatives for reference and ingredients.
The Companion Animal Parasite Council recommends that all dogs be treated year-round for tick and flea control. Ask your Veterinarian what product to use in your area as there may be some resistance to widely used products and if there is a specific tick season.
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References
(1) Understanding the transmission of infection by ticks and new strategies for control. Susan E. Shaw BVSc(Hons), MSc, Dip ACVIM, Dip ECVIM-Ca, FACVSc, MRCVS, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford, North Somerset BS40 5DU, UK.
(2) CANINE TICK BORNE DISEASES; Michael R. Lappin, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVIM, The Kenneth W. Smith Professor in Small Animal Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins Colorado.
