5 Key Places to Check for Ticks on Your Dog’s Body
Ticks are unpleasant parasites that latch onto dogs to feed on their blood. While unsettling to see, they also pose health risks, spreading diseases like Lyme disease and causing skin infections or irritations at their bite site. Promptly detecting and removing ticks reduces these risks, as leaving ticks until they detach naturally allows disease transmission and the possibility for ticks to reattach inside your home.
In the UK, ticks are most active during spring and autumn, particularly in April-May and October-November, but due to milder weather patterns, tick activity can extend through summer as well. This makes it essential to routinely check your dog for ticks after outdoor walks year-round, especially in wooded or grassy areas where ticks often reside.
Ticks can be hard to spot, especially on large or long-coated dogs. However, they generally target certain parts of the body where blood supply is close to the skin and fur is thinner. Focusing on these 5 key areas will help you spot ticks quickly and remove them safely.
The undercarriage and between the hind legs
The underside of your dog’s belly as it slopes up toward the rear, particularly the inner sides of the hind legs, is a prime tick target. This area often brushes against long grass, and the skin here is thinner with a rich blood supply. Carefully check around the undercarriage, along the insides of the hind legs, and also around the base and underside of the tail. Using a torch in low light or on a thick-coated dog can help reveal hidden ticks.
Inside the armpits
The armpit area is often less densely furred and has strong pulses, making it attractive for ticks. These creases can be easier to check than the hind legs, but do ensure you look deep into the folds to detect ticks that might be hiding. Regularly inspecting the armpits after walks is recommended to catch ticks early.
In between the pads of the paws
Although the pads themselves offer thick skin, ticks can attach to the skin between your dog’s toes and paw pads where there is blood flow but no fur to obstruct them. Because dogs walk on their pads, ticks avoid those thick areas but take advantage of the skin between. Examining paw toes carefully after each walk helps catch any ticks before they embed deeply.
Around the eyes
Ticks can sometimes target the delicate skin around and just below the eyes. Small ticks that blend with the skin or a normally unclean eye can be easy to overlook. Gently running your finger around the eye area and visually inspecting for new bumps or irregularities is important for early detection.
At the base of the ears
The base of the ears also has a good blood supply and less fur, making it a favoured site for ticks. Check both the outer edges and inside the ears, though ticks are less common deep inside due to denser fur and natural protection. Regular ear checks help prevent tick bites in this sensitive area.
Safe Tick Removal and Prevention Tips
When you find a tick, the safest removal method is to use a specialised tick removal tool designed to extract the tick intact. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull steadily upwards without twisting or crushing, minimizing the chance of leaving mouthparts embedded which can cause infection.
If unsure how to remove a tick safely, seek assistance from your veterinary practice. Avoid home remedies like petroleum jelly or heat as they can cause the tick to regurgitate harmful pathogens into your dog’s bloodstream.
After removal, clean the bite area with antiseptic and watch your dog for signs of illness such as lethargy, lameness, fever, or swollen joints, which might indicate tick-borne disease.
Preventative measures include regular use of veterinary-recommended tick treatments during peak seasons and beyond, avoiding high-risk areas such as dense woodland or long grass where ticks thrive, and thorough grooming routines incorporating tick checks.
By inspecting your dog’s undercarriage, armpits, paws, eyes, and ear bases thoroughly after every outing, especially during spring and autumn, you can protect their health and wellbeing from ticks and their potentially harmful effects.
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