If you find a tick on your dog, remove it as quickly as possible with a tick remover, without smothering or crushing it, then keep an eye on your dog over the following weeks. Prompt removal matters, because the risk of disease transmission increases the longer the tick stays attached. Here is when and where ticks lie in wait for your dog on walks, how to spot them, the right way to remove them and the signs that should send you to the vet.
Ticks and dogs: when and where the risk is highest
Ticks live in vegetation and latch on as an animal brushes past. ESCCAP, the European association of veterinary parasitologists, mainly mentions long grass, woodland and moorland. Dogs are affected more often than cats.
Tick activity is highly seasonal. According to ESCCAP UK, it has traditionally peaked from March to June, then from August to November, and climate change is extending this season. A European veterinary review (Solano-Gallego et al., 2016) states that ticks can parasitise dogs once the average air temperature rises above about 12 °C, and that year-round protection may be needed in some areas. In other words, a woodland walk on a mild November or February afternoon is not risk-free.
How to check your dog after a walk
Checks are done by hand, after every outing through grass or woods. ESCCAP UK advises running your hands over the whole body, paying particular attention to the areas where ticks like to settle:
- the ears (inside and around) and the head;
- the neck and skin folds;
- the armpits and belly;
- between the toes;
- around the tail.
An attached tick looks like a small grey or brown bead, from the size of a pinhead to that of a small pea once it is full of blood. Take the harness off for the check: the areas it covers, especially under the front legs, need checking too. On a long-haired dog, part the coat against the lie of the fur, section by section. Check yourself at the same time: ESCCAP points out that ticks can bite people too.
How to remove a tick from a dog
ESCCAP UK recommends using a purpose-made tick removal tool (a tick remover or hook, sold in pharmacies and pet shops) and never squeezing or puncturing the tick’s body: incorrect removal can infect the wound or help pass on disease.
With a tick remover (hook)
- Part the fur so you can clearly see where the tick is attached.
- Slide the hook under the tick, flush with the skin, following the manufacturer’s instructions (most hooks are turned gently until the tick comes away).
- Check that the tick is whole.
With fine tweezers
If you only have fine-tipped tweezers, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), whose guidance covers tick bites in humans, describe the method: grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, then pull straight out with steady, even pressure, without twisting or jerking, so the mouthparts do not break off.
What not to do
- Do not apply ether, alcohol or oil to the tick (Solano-Gallego et al., 2016), nor petroleum jelly, nail polish or heat (CDC). These methods delay removal, and according to the CDC they may force the tick’s contents into the skin.
- Do not crush the tick with your fingers.
- Do not wait for it to drop off by itself.
After removal
Seal the tick in a plastic bag before throwing it away (ESCCAP UK). Clean the area and wash your hands. Note the date and where you walked: this information will be useful to your vet if your dog falls ill. If you think part of the tick has stayed in the skin, or if the area becomes red and swollen, ask your vet for advice.
Babesiosis: the main risk in France
Ticks can transmit bacteria, viruses and parasites. In France, the best-known disease in dogs is babesiosis (called “piroplasmose” in French), caused by the parasite Babesia canis and transmitted mainly by the tick Dermacentor reticulatus.
A survey of 748 French veterinary clinics (Halos et al., 2013) estimated the annual incidence of clinical babesiosis at 1.07% of dogs in 2010, with large differences between départements: up to 16% in Ariège, 10.6% in Gers and 6.9% in Jura. The authors identify four areas where the disease is established: the South-West, the most affected, the Centre (Auvergne), the East (Moselle) and the Paris suburbs. This survey has its limits: only 14.8% of the clinics contacted replied, and the number of dogs per département was estimated, not counted.
The transmission delay leaves room to act: the review by Solano-Gallego and colleagues notes that the parasite needs around 48 hours of development in the attached tick before it is transmitted. Hence the value of checking your dog every day in season and removing ticks without delay.
Warning signs
According to the review by Solano-Gallego et al. (2016), common signs of babesiosis are:
- fever and unusual lethargy;
- loss of appetite;
- pale (white gums) or yellow mucous membranes;
- weakness;
- dark, red or brown urine.
If your dog shows any of these signs, especially in the weeks after a tick bite or a walk in a high-risk area, contact your vet promptly. Only an examination can confirm the diagnosis, and this disease can be serious without treatment.
Preventing ticks day to day
- A suitable antiparasitic product. Collars, spot-ons, tablets: talk to your vet, who will choose the product according to your dog, your region and your walking habits. ESCCAP UK stresses that no product is 100% effective, so they do not replace checking your dog.
- The babesiosis vaccine. It is available in Europe, but according to Solano-Gallego et al. (2016) it only offers partial protection and does not prevent infection; it is renewed every year. Discuss it with your vet.
- Adapted walks. In peak season, favour open paths over long grass, especially if your dog likes to rummage in the undergrowth; a dog that stays close to you on a lead passes through less vegetation. For a relaxed walk, see also how long to walk your dog and our tips for dogs that scavenge and eat everything outside.
- A harness that is easy to take off and clean. A harness that comes off in seconds makes the post-walk check easier. MyDogGrip harnesses close with buckles and adjust at the neck and chest.
Frequently asked questions
The tick’s head stayed in the skin: is it serious?
In humans, the CDC say there is no need to keep digging: if the mouthparts do not come out easily, the skin will push them out as it heals. In dogs, ESCCAP UK advises seeing your vet if in doubt, especially if the area becomes infected.
Should I have the tick tested?
The CDC generally do not recommend having a tick tested, and specify that the result should not guide treatment. What matters is watching your dog and seeing the vet if it shows signs of illness.
Are ticks active in winter?
Less so, but exposure remains possible all year round, ESCCAP UK reminds us, particularly on mild days.
Sources
- ESCCAP UK & Ireland. Ticks. European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites.
- Solano-Gallego L., Sainz Á., Roura X., Estrada-Peña A., Miró G. (2016). A review of canine babesiosis: the European perspective. Parasites & Vectors, 9, 336.
- Halos L., Lebert I., Chao I., Vourc’h G., Ducrot C., Abrial D., Ravier J.-F., Guillot J. (2013). Questionnaire-based survey on distribution and clinical incidence of canine babesiosis in France. BMC Veterinary Research, 9, 41.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What to Do After a Tick Bite. CDC.