How do dogs become infected by ticks? - briefly
Dogs contract tick‑borne diseases when feeding ticks insert saliva containing pathogens into the bloodstream, delivering bacteria, viruses, or protozoa. Transmission generally occurs within the first 24–48 hours of attachment.
How do dogs become infected by ticks? - in detail
Ticks attach to a dog’s skin when the animal moves through grassy, brushy, or wooded areas where questing ticks wait for a host. The insect’s front legs sense heat and carbon dioxide, prompting it to climb onto the dog’s fur. Once on the body, the tick climbs to a suitable site—often behind the ears, in the armpits, or around the tail—where the skin is thin and the temperature is stable.
During attachment, the tick inserts its hypostome, a barbed feeding tube, into the epidermis and secretes saliva containing anticoagulants and immunomodulatory proteins. This saliva creates a blood pool that the tick ingests for several days. Pathogens residing in the tick’s salivary glands or midgut are released into the host’s bloodstream through the feeding canal. Transmission efficiency depends on:
- Tick species (e.g., Ixodes scapularis, Rhipicephalus sanguineus).
- Pathogen type (bacteria, protozoa, viruses).
- Duration of attachment; many agents require at least 24–48 hours of feeding.
- Tick life stage; larvae and nymphs often carry fewer pathogens than adults, but nymphal bites are harder to detect.
After detachment, the dog may develop clinical signs ranging from fever and lethargy to joint pain, anemia, or neurological deficits, depending on the infectious agent. Early detection of attached ticks and prompt removal reduce the risk of disease transmission. Regular use of acaricidal preventatives, environmental control of tick habitats, and routine grooming inspections form the primary barriers against infection.