Ticks on pets
Ticks are more than just a nuisance; these tiny blood-sucking parasites can transmit serious diseases to our beloved pets, and even to us. While they can be tricky to spot, knowing what to look for and how to act can significantly reduce the risks.
What are Ticks?
Often mistaken for insects, ticks are actually arachnids, just like spiders, and boast eight legs! They are typically grey or brown and are small and round - but their size will vary depending on their life stage and how recently they’ve fed. They can start off as small as a pin head and their size increases once they fill with blood: when fully engorged after feeding, they can be around 1cm in diameter.
Ticks can occasionally get mistaken for skin lumps, but on closer inspection, you should be able to see the tick’s legs (speak to your vet if you’re unsure).
Ticks thrive in environments like tall grass, woodlands, and areas where deer or sheep graze, patiently waiting to latch onto a passing host – which could be your dog, cat, or even you.
How Ticks Attach and Feed
Once a tick climbs onto your pet, it will often migrate to less hairy areas such as the head, neck, ears, belly, groin, armpits, and paws. Using its sharp mouthparts, it buries itself into the skin and begins to feed on blood. This "meal" can last for several days, during which the tick will grow significantly in size and change color.
Types of ticks that affect dogs and cats
Different ticks carry different risks to dogs and cats, though not all are found in the UK. However, if your pet travels with you on holiday to a hotter country eg in Southern Europe, they are at risk of picking up another type of tick that may be common there. All ticks are able to transmit disease so it's best to know your ticks so you know what to look out for on your pet:
Castor bean tickAlso known as the “sheep tick” or “deer tick”, the castor bean tick (Ixodes ricinus) is the most common and widely distributed tick in the UK. This tick can transmit the debilitating Lyme disease to both pets and people.
Meadow or Marsh tickAlthough rare in the UK, the Meadow or Marsh tick (Dermacentor reticulatus) has been found in pockets in the South East of England and Wales. It can transmit a very nasty disease called babesiosis to dogs and cats.
Brown dog tickThe brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) is not naturally found in the UK but is very common in Southern Europe and can transmit babesiosis and ehrlichiosis to pets that have travelled there, which can be fatal.
How to know if your pet has a tick
The most common ways for you to know if your pet has a tick are:
- Small bumps on the skin:
Because ticks attach to your dog’s skin and are hidden by your dog’s fur, once they’re attached you’re more likely to feel them on your dog before you actually see them. Carefully run your hands over your dog’s body to feel for any small bumps on their skin which could be a tick. Ticks like to settle in hairless areas, so pay particular attention to your dog’s head, neck, groin, feet, armpits and ears.
You may want to use a torch to get a better look inside your dog’s ear and if you spot one inside the ear, contact your vet rather than trying to remove the critter yourself.
Check your dog for ticks regularly, especially after walking through habitats where ticks live, such as grassy or wooded areas. - Skin irritation:
Unlike flea bites, which cause animals to desperately itch and scratch, tick bites often don’t irritate dogs (this is part of the problem - dogs often won’t alert you to the fact they have been bitten, and meanwhile the tick is able to feed for days).
However, some dogs can react to tick bites, tell-tale signs can include red and inflamed skin at the site of attachment, and it can sometimes lead to a skin infection.
However, if you didn’t manage to catch sight of the tick, then you might not know your dog has been bitten. Ticks can transmit diseases to our pets, and if this happens, you may spot unusual symptoms in your dog some weeks to months after a tick bite, that could indicate they’ve been exposed to a tick-borne disease. Speak with your vet if you see signs of lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, lameness or swollen lymph nodes.
What to do if you find a tick
If you find a tick on your pet, prompt and safe removal is key to reducing the risk of disease transmission. Remove the tick as soon as possible using a tick hook; these tools are designed to safely remove the entire tick, including its mouthparts. It's crucial to remove the whole tick, as leaving mouthparts embedded can lead to infection.
If the tick is in a difficult or sensitive area (like deep inside the ear canal), or if you're unsure about removing it yourself, contact your vet for assistance.
Preventing ticks on your pet
The best way to protect your dog or cat is to use a tick prevention product:
- Regular preventative treatments: The most effective way to protect your pet from ticks biting in the first place is to use a tick preventative product. There are several different product types to choose from:
- Collars, such as Seresto Flea and Tick Control collar. Utilising the natural oils in your pet's skin, Seresto steadily releases the active ingredients across the lipid layer of the skin from head to tail, actively repelling and killing ticks (and killing fleas) through contact, no tick bites required!1 Seresto also offers 7 to 8 months of protection from fleas and ticks in a single application – the longest lasting over the counter protection available.
- Tablets are another commonly used method to protect dogs and cats from ticks and can be given either by putting the tablet in with your pet's food or treats, or by gently giving it directly into their mouth. An example of a tablet available for preventative tick control is Advantage Chewable. This a tasty, meat-flavoured chewable tablet for dogs that provides fast-acting, reliable protection, killing fleas in just 4 hours and ticks in 8 hours2. Speak with your vet about preventative tick control for cats.
Tick treatment options
Seresto™ Flea and Tick Control collar for Cats
Suitable for cats and kittens over 10 weeks
Responsible use of medicines in pets
When we use pet health treatments, be they for parasites or for other health issues, it's essential that they are used responsibly. Find out more about the principles of responsible use of medicines in pets.
- Environmental awareness: Be extra vigilant when walking dogs in areas known for high tick populations, such as woodlands and long grass, or if you know there are areas like this that your cat may explore when out and about.
By staying informed and taking preventative measures, you can help keep your beloved dogs and cats happy and healthy!
- Mehlhorn et al. Parasitol Res (2001) 87:198-207, information is regarding mode of action and is not intended to relate to speed of kill or to imply parasites can be completely stopped from biting.
- Advantage Chewable Summary of Product Characteristics.
