How do I spot ticks on my dog?

A tick on a dog usually feels like a small, hard lump attached to the skin. It is easy to mistake for a wart, skin tag, or scab until you look closely. Before feeding, a tick such as the American dog tick or brown dog tick is flat and oval. It is about the size of a sesame or apple seed. Its color ranges from brown to black. As it feeds on blood, it swells. It can become round and grayish, sometimes as large as a small pea. You may see its legs where it grips the skin.

How can I tell a tick from a skin tag or wart?

The differences become clear on close inspection:

  • A tick has legs near where it attaches to the skin; a skin tag or wart does not
  • A tick's body sits on the surface, while skin tags grow from the skin itself
  • An engorged tick feels firm and rounded and may be grayish or tan
  • Skin tags and warts are usually the same color as surrounding skin and have no separate body
If you are unsure, part the fur and look with good light and a magnifier. Or ask your veterinarian.

Where do ticks hide on a dog?

Ticks favor warm, sheltered spots where they are hard to see and hard for the dog to reach:

  • Ears and the folds around them
  • Neck, under the collar, and the chest
  • Armpits and the groin area
  • Between the toes and around the pads
After walks in grassy or wooded areas, run your hands slowly over your dog. Feel for small bumps, and part the fur to check the hidden spots above.

How do I safely remove a tick from my dog?

Ticks do not fly or jump. They climb aboard when a dog brushes through grass or brush. This is much as fleas exploit passing hosts. To remove one:

  • Use fine-tipped tweezers and grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible
  • Pull straight out with steady, even pressure; do not twist or squeeze the body
  • Clean the area with mild soap and water or an antiseptic afterward
  • Wash your hands and monitor the spot for irritation
Avoid folk methods like burning the tick or coating it in petroleum jelly. They are ineffective and can make things worse.

How do I protect my dog from ticks?

Because ticks can spread disease to dogs, prevention is worth the effort:

  • Talk with your veterinarian about vet-recommended tick-preventive products suited to your dog and region
  • Keep grass trimmed and clear brush and leaf litter around the yard
  • Check your dog for ticks after every outing in tick habitat
  • See your veterinarian if your dog seems tired, feverish, lame, or unwell after a bite
Your veterinarian is the best source of guidance on prevention. That includes any health concern after a tick bite. The blacklegged tick library page has more on tick habits and the regions where they are common.