How does a tick look after biting a dog? - briefly
After feeding on a dog, the tick becomes markedly enlarged, often appearing balloon‑shaped, with a darkened, glossy body and a noticeably stretched abdomen. Its legs remain visible, but the overall shape is much more rounded than the flat, pale form seen before attachment.
How does a tick look after biting a dog? - in detail
After a canine has been fed upon, the parasite’s body undergoes rapid expansion. The abdomen swells to several times its unfed size, often reaching 5–10 mm in diameter for adult females and 2–4 mm for males. The cuticle becomes stretched and translucent, giving the tick a glossy, balloon‑like appearance. Color shifts from the typical brown or reddish hue of an unfed specimen to a pale gray‑white or amber shade, reflecting the blood‑filled interior.
Key visual characteristics include:
- Engorged shape: The dorsal surface appears rounded and dome‑shaped, while the ventral side flattens against the skin.
- Leg visibility: All eight legs remain attached and may be partially obscured by the expanded body, but they retain their segmented, dark‑colored appearance.
- Mouthparts: The capitulum (head) with its barbed hypostome remains embedded in the dog’s epidermis, often visible as a small, dark projection protruding from the tick’s anterior margin.
- Attachment site: The surrounding skin may show a small, circular erythema or a slight depression where the tick’s grip is strongest. In some cases, a thin, pale halo forms around the feeding site due to localized inflammation.
The dog’s coat may conceal the tick, but the engorged parasite can be felt as a firm, smooth lump under the fur. Removal should be performed with fine‑pointed tweezers, grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible to avoid breaking the mouthparts, which can leave remnants embedded in the tissue.