How do ticks bite dogs? - briefly
Ticks latch onto a dog’s skin, embed their chelicerae to cut the epidermis, and insert a hypostome that anchors them while they draw blood through a salivary canal.
How do ticks bite dogs? - in detail
Ticks attach to canines by locating a suitable skin region, usually where hair is thin or the skin is warm and moist. The process begins with questing behavior: the arthropod climbs vegetation and extends its forelegs to detect carbon dioxide, heat, and movement. When a dog brushes against the vegetation, the tick grasps the host with its front legs and moves onto the body.
The next phase is the insertion of the mouthparts. Ticks possess a specialized structure called the hypostome, a barbed, hollow tube that penetrates the epidermis. The barbs anchor the parasite, preventing removal, while the hollow canal delivers saliva and extracts blood. Saliva contains anticoagulants, anti‑inflammatory agents, and immunomodulators that facilitate prolonged feeding.
Feeding proceeds in stages:
- Attachment: Hypostome embeds into the dermis; cementing proteins are secreted to reinforce the bond.
- Salivation: Anticoagulant compounds (e.g., apyrase, prostaglandins) inhibit clotting; anesthetic substances reduce host awareness.
- Blood ingestion: The tick expands its body, filling the midgut with ingested blood, which can increase its mass by several hundred times.
- Detachment: After engorgement, the tick releases cement and withdraws its mouthparts, leaving a small wound that may heal quickly but can harbor pathogens.
The duration of attachment varies by life stage. Larvae and nymphs feed for 2–5 days, while adult females may remain attached for up to 10 days. Throughout this period, the tick remains concealed under the fur, making early detection difficult. Prompt removal with fine‑point tweezers, grasping the mouthparts close to the skin and pulling upward with steady pressure, reduces the risk of disease transmission.