Ticks and DogsSince ticks and dogs seem to spend a lot of time together, let's find out more about these parasitic pests. Ticks can be found in just about every country around the world. Besides being a nuisance, they can be dangerous because some species carry diseases. We'll also tackle the important issue of tick control. What Do Ticks Look Like?All members of this group have eight legs and no antennae. There are about 200 species of ticks just in the United States--unbelievable! There are two main types of ticks: hard and soft. Hard ticks are usually found in woods and fields. They're probably the ones that come to mind when we think of ticks and dogs. Soft ticks don't have the hard shield and they're shaped like a large raisin. They prefer to feed on birds or bats, so people rarely come across them. The life cycle of a tick includes four stages--egg, larva, nymph and adult. After the tick eggs hatch, the tiny larvae (sometimes called "seed ticks") feed on a host, then molt into nymphs. The tick nymph feeds on a host and then molts into an even larger adult. Both male and female adult ticks find and feed on a host, then the females lay eggs. When they're ready for a meal, ticks wait for host animals from the tips of tall grasses and low shrubs. When brushed by a moving animal or person, they quickly let go of the vegetation and climb onto the host. It's amazing how easily ticks and dogs get together even though ticks can only crawl--they can't fly or jump.
They live by drinking blood (like mini-vampires). They'll get larger as they swell up with blood--gross! The American dog tick (pictured here), also known as the wood tick, is probably the most common tick in the U.S. They're large enough for you to see them easily. (OK, I need my reading glasses sometimes to be sure that's what I'm seeing.) This tick often carries Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The deer tick (now believed to be the nymph stage of the blacklegged tick) is barely visible to the human eye. Deer ticks can be found throughout the U.S., and often carry Lyme disease. Diseases From Ticks When ticks and dogs get together, several serious canine tick diseases can result.You’ve probably heard of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. There’s another one you should know about. Ehrlichiosis (pronounced “ear-lick-ee-osis”) is also known as tick fever in dogs. It's transmitted by the brown dog tick, and is becoming more common. Initial symptoms appear within 8 to 20 days. They include fever, runny eyes and nose, lack of appetite, lethargy, and weight loss. If not diagnosed and treated, a dog can live with a chronic form of Ehrlichiosis for years. Tick borne diseases in dogs often create vague signs and can be misdiagnosed. That's especially true if your dog lives in a non-tick area, but just returned from a visit to a tick-infested area. Although people can't "catch" a tick borne disease from an infected dog, we can become infected by tick bites from the ticks that transmit the disease. So if you get any tick bite symptoms such as a rash that looks like a bull's-eye, or a rash anywhere on your body, or an unexplained illness accompanied by fever following a tick bite, call your doctor and explain that you were bitten by a tick. Separating Ticks And DogsWhen you come home after being out with your Golden Retriever, check him carefully for ticks.Pet him all over (he'll love it!) to find ticks that are still roaming, looking for a "landing site." Then feel and look carefully for ticks that have already latched on.
Your dog may also let you know he's playing host to a tick, by persistently scratching and burrowing into his coat with his paws, tongue and teeth. Watch for bald spots and/or scabby sores, too. If ticks are crawling on your dog's fur, you can easily pluck them off and drop them in the toilet. When you come across a tick that's already attached itself, don't use nail polish, a hot match, or petroleum jelly. You may have heard these old wives' tales, but doing these things can cause the tick to inject infected material into the skin as the tick makes a "last gasp" effort just before it dies. The best way to remove ticks is to grasp the tick as closely to the skin as possible--using tweezers--and pull it slowly and steadily, straight up from the dog (don't twist). Drop the tick in the toilet, and flush. All done! (They're not very good swimmers.) If the head of the tick remains in the dog's skin, try to grab it with the tweezers and remove as much of it as you can. If you can't remove the entire head, don't worry. Your pet's immune system will create an inflammatory response at the area to try to dislodge the head. Contact your vet if the skin around any tick bites remains irritated. If you're wondering how to remove ticks from yourself or a family member, just follow the above procedure. Ticks and people can be separated as easily as ticks and dogs. A simple tick bite treatment of soap and water followed by an antiseptic at the bite site would be a good precaution. Getting Rid of TicksTicks can be a major problem for dogs exercised in areas with heavy tick populations. You can try to avoid areas known to be tick-infested, such as fields of long grass, but that may not always be possible (especially for hunting dogs).To keep ticks and dogs separated during tick season (generally April through September), ask your veterinarian about dog tick medications. Several dog flea and tick control products are available, some of which are effective for four weeks or longer. Here are some other ways to help get rid of ticks:
On a Personal NoteWhen I was growing up in central Ohio, ticks and dogs were a natural part of life. From early spring through late fall, we constantly checked the dogs and ourselves for ticks.If I felt something crawling on me, or located a new bump on my scalp or in my ear, I just pulled off the tick and dropped it in the toilet. No big deal. I didn't even know about tick borne diseases. Ah, ignorance is bliss! Somehow, we all survived. But I'd recommend you take a more cautious approach in dealing with ticks nowadays. Search here for more information on Golden Retrievers |
Once on an animal, they burrow their tiny heads into the skin, and hang on.
Ticks and dogs seem to hook up most frequently in and around the ears, between the toes, and in the underside area where each leg joins the body (the "armpits"). 
