TICKS AND DOGS

Ticks are parasitic arthropods that feed on the blood of their hosts. Ticks tend to hide out in tall grass or plants in wooded areas waiting for prospective hosts. Ticks climb onto their host and attach their mouthparts into the skin, beginning the blood meal. Once locked in place, they will not detach until their meals are complete. They may continue to feed for several hours to days, depending on the type of tick. On dogs, ticks often attach themselves in areas with little to no hair – in and around the ears, the areas where the insides of the legs meet the body, between the toes, and within skin folds.

Most species of ticks go through four life stages - eggs, larvae, nymphs, and adults. All stages beyond eggs will attach to a host for a blood meal. Depending on species, the life span of a tick can be several months to years, and female adults can lay hundreds to thousands of eggs at a time.

Though they are known vectors of disease, not all ticks transmit disease – in fact, many ticks do not even carry diseases. However, the threat of disease is always present where ticks are concerned, and these risks should always be taken seriously. Most tick-borne diseases will take several hours to transmit to a host, so the sooner a tick is located and removed, the lower the risk of disease. The symptoms of most tick-borne diseases include fever and lethargy, though some can also cause weakness, lameness, joint swelling and or anemia. Some ticks can cause a temporary condition called “tick paralysis,” which is manifested by a gradual onset of difficulty walking that may develop into paralysis. If you notice these or any other signs of illness in your dog, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible so that proper testing and necessary treatments can begin.

The following are some of the most common tick-borne diseases:
Lyme disease
Ehrlichiosis
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Anaplasmosis
Babesiosis