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dog tick is found primarily in kennels or homes with dogs, where it may be found hiding in cracks, behind radiators, under rugs and furniture, and on draperies and walls.
The adult is reddish-brown and usually attaches around the ears or between the toes of a dog to feed. After feeding, a female may engorge to 1 / 2”( 10-12 mm) long. She then drops off the dog and crawls into a hiding place where she may lay as many as 5,000 eggs. This tick is tropical in origin and does not survive long, cold winters outdoors.
LONGHORNED TICK
The longhorned tick was first detected in 2017 in New Jersey, and as of 2025, these ticks have been found in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, and they are likely to continue spreading to other states.
These ticks have been found on cats, dogs, livestock, and people. While it is not clear if these ticks carry bacteria and viruses that could cause disease in North America, in other countries, longhorned ticks transmit severe fever and thrombocytopenia syndrome virus( SFTSV) to people. Although not proven, it may be able to transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
These ticks are unique in that the female tick reproduces and lays eggs without mating.
WHAT CAN I DO TO PREVENT MY DOG FROM GETTING TICKS?
There are many tick preventatives available commercially. Some products are available over-thecounter, while others are only available through your veterinarian. There are effective preventatives that are typically applied monthly, to the skin at the back of the neck, to continuously control these external parasites. Other products are applied every three months for similar control. There are also chewable products that offer similar protection.
No effective tick preventative is completely without potential side effects, but the risk of getting a severe disease from tick exposure generally outweighs the risk of a side effect occurring. Your veterinarian will discuss the risks and benefits specific to your dog and will give you recommendations specific to your dog to keep them parasite-free.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I FIND A TICK ON ME OR MY DOG?
Avoid home remedies, such as applying petroleum jelly or grease or touching the rear of the tick with a hot match. These methods do
not work effectively and are not recommended, as they can cause the tick to salivate, increasing the chance of the pet getting a disease.
Avoid touching the tick’ s body. Pressure on the tick’ s body can cause infectious agents in the tick to enter your pet.
Wear gloves. You can contract infectious agents through mucous membranes or breaks in the skin simply by handling infected ticks. Ticks that infest dogs and other domestic animals can carry multiple diseases capable of infecting humans.
Use a tool such as fine-tipped tweezers, a tick twister, tick key, or a fine-tooth comb to grasp the tick as close to the skin surface as possible.
Pull the tick straight out with steady, even pressure. Continue applying steady pressure even if the tick does not release immediately. It may take a minute or two of constant, slow pulling to cause the tick to release. Avoid twisting or jerking the tick as this may cause the mouth parts to break off and remain in the skin, increasing the chances of infection.
After removing the tick, thoroughly disinfect the bite area and your hands with soap and water. If you want to preserve the tick for identification, place it in a labeled and sealed container filled with rubbing alcohol. Your veterinarian can let you know if the tick needs to be tested further after identification.
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