How do ticks infect dogs? - briefly
Ticks attach to a dog’s skin, penetrate the epidermis with their mouthparts, and inject saliva that may contain bacteria, protozoa, or viruses while feeding on blood. The introduced pathogens enter the bloodstream, resulting in infection.
How do ticks infect dogs? - in detail
Ticks attach to a dog’s skin by inserting their mouthparts, called chelicerae and hypostome, into the epidermis. The hypostome is barbed, allowing the parasite to remain firmly anchored while it feeds on blood.
During the blood meal, the tick’s salivary glands release a cocktail of bioactive molecules. These substances suppress the host’s immune response, inhibit clotting, and create a lubricated feeding channel. Pathogens residing in the tick’s salivary glands—such as Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease), Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Rickettsia spp.—are expelled with the saliva directly into the dog’s bloodstream.
The transmission sequence proceeds as follows:
- Attachment – tick secures itself to the host’s skin and begins feeding.
- Saliva injection – tick injects anti‑coagulant and immunomodulatory compounds.
- Pathogen release – microorganisms present in the tick’s salivary glands are transferred into the host’s circulatory system.
- Establishment – pathogens multiply or disseminate, initiating infection.
Transmission efficiency depends on the duration of attachment. Most bacterial agents require the tick to be attached for at least 24–48 hours before sufficient numbers are delivered. Protozoan parasites, such as Babesia spp., may be transmitted more rapidly, sometimes within a few hours of attachment.
Environmental factors—temperature, humidity, and host grooming behavior—affect tick activity and feeding success. Dogs that spend time in wooded or grassy areas encounter higher tick densities, increasing exposure risk.
Effective control focuses on preventing attachment and promptly removing any attached ticks. Early removal (within 12 hours) reduces the likelihood of pathogen transmission because most agents are not expelled until the tick has established a sustained feeding site.