Do ticks fall off dogs on their own? Here’s the Answer

How Do I Prevent Ticks on Dogs?

Staying diligent with your tick prevention regimen is key! A variety of prevention methods are available, including oral medications, topical treatments, natural tick killers for the yard and home, and collars. Your veterinarian will be able to advise you on what tick prevention method will be most effective for you and your dog. Region, lifestyle, and the individual dogs breed all play a role.

Sometimes, a method that works for one dog, won’t work for another, so you may have to use trial and error to determine the best method for your pup. With that said, there are many excellent natural tick repellents available on the market today, just be sure to check with your vet about the list of ingredients. And finally, cleanliness sets the standard when it comes to avoiding ticks, bugs, and parasites — good old-fashioned soap and water should be your front-line defenses against the dirt, mud, and moisture where ticks live and breed.

Where Can I Find Ticks on My Dog?

Searching for ticks on dogs is not as simple as running a hand down their back and legs. Ticks latch firmly onto the skin beneath and between the hair, so you must search deep within a dogs fur to find them. Often, ticks are so tiny, you may not even feel them at first. They can also be mistaken for a skin tag, wart, or scab. This is why it is so important to brush, bathe, and regularly groom to familiarize yourself with your dog and know what is “normal” for them and what is not.

Long-haired dogs, dogs with dark coats, and dogs with an undercoat pose the greatest challenge, as ticks are hardest to feel and see. Just like in the wild, ticks prefer warm, dark areas on your dog. These are some common places where ticks like to hide:

You will commonly find ticks in your dog’s “armpits,” where it is dark and warm. Also, the skin is very thin in that area, which makes it easy for them to penetrate.

Also hidden from view and thin-skinned, ticks commonly latch on to the inside of your dog’s back legs in the flank region.

Since they’re so low to the ground, ticks often hide between your dog’s toes. They can be difficult to detect in this location, so be sure to closely examine between the toes and webbing. This is why it’s important that your dog be comfortable with you touching their paws. This handling should begin when your dog is a puppy!

The delicate folds and thin skin of your dog’s ears are another easy place for ticks to hide. Ticks here can be difficult to find and even harder to remove.

Surprisingly, ticks will even latch onto the thin skin around your dog’s eyes and eyelids. This is because your dog’s snout is often sniffing at ground level. Though easier to find, ticks around the eyes can be precarious to remove.

Because ticks like warm, dark places, ticks will often hide under your dog’s collar or harness. Don’t forget to check there!

How do I recognize common dog tick types? And what does a tick look like?

Like people, your dog may have a variety of lumps, skin tags, freckles, and distinguishing marks that make them unique and special. It is not uncommon for pet owners to mistake a pet’s nipple, or skin tag, for an engorged or dried dead tick. So, ensure to carefully examine the suspicious lesion before attempting to remove a part of your dog’s body. Ticks can range in size from barely visible to the size of a small grape when they are engorged. They are typically brown or black, and some may have distinguishing marks or spots, depending on the species. Additionally, ticks will have 6 legs in the larva stage and 8 legs in the adult life stage. The most common disease-carrying ticks that are a threat to your dog’s health include:

Deer tick – These ticks are also known as black-legged ticks and are characterized by black legs, a reddish-brown colored body, and a dark brown or black shield-like shape located between their mouth parts and body. The adults are most active in the spring and fall seasons and are mostly found in wooded areas of the Midwest and Eastern U.S. The deer tick can transmit Lyme disease to dogs and may also transmit Ehrlichia and Anaplasma.

American dog tick – Also known as the wooded tick, adults have a chestnut brown body with white spots or streaks and brown legs. They have a wide distribution and can be found in the Midwest U.S., the Pacific Northwest U.S., and the Eastern U.S. These ticks are present year-round but are most active in the spring and summer. They can infect dogs with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF).

Brown dog tick – These reddish-brown ticks are also called kennel ticks or house ticks because they tend to move indoors and inhabit dog kennels. They are found year-round and in most U.S. locations. Dogs who are bitten are at risk for RMSF and Ehrlichia.

Lone star tick – These ticks can be tan or brown. Female lone star ticks are distinguished by a single silver-white spot on their back, and male ticks have scattered white spots. Lone star ticks are a year-round danger and are found mostly in the underbrush near creeks or rivers in the Eastern U.S, the Southeast U.S, and the Midwest. These ticks can spread RMSF and Ehrlichia to dogs.

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