What does a dried tick look like on a dog? - briefly
A dried tick looks like a tiny, brown‑gray, flat or mildly raised scar‑shaped spot where the engorged body once attached, often crusted and adhered to the fur or skin. It can be hard to notice without close inspection because the body collapses and the legs disappear.
What does a dried tick look like on a dog? - in detail
A desiccated tick attached to a dog’s skin appears as a small, flat, hardened structure. The body is typically brown to gray‑black, sometimes taking on a pale, almost chalky hue after losing moisture. Its outline remains oval, roughly 3‑6 mm in length, with the front (mouthparts) protruding slightly from the skin surface. The dorsal shield (scutum) is smooth and glossy when fresh, becoming matte and brittle once dried.
The legs are no longer visible; they retract into the body and collapse, leaving a smooth, carpet‑like surface. The mouthparts, especially the capitulum, may be visible as a tiny, dark point extending from the center of the attachment site. Surrounding skin often shows a thin, raised ring of inflammation, ranging from pink to reddish‑brown, which may be less pronounced after the tick has died and shrunk.
Key visual cues for identification:
- Size: 3‑6 mm, flattened compared to the engorged, rounded shape of a live feeding tick.
- Color: Dark brown, gray, or black; may appear lighter if the cuticle has cracked.
- Texture: Rigid, papery, and easily crumbled when pressed.
- Shape: Oval with a central protruding mouthpart; no visible legs.
- Surrounding skin: Slightly raised, possibly with a thin halo of erythema.
Differentiating a dried tick from other skin lesions (e.g., cysts, scabs, or skin tags) relies on the presence of the characteristic mouthpart and the uniform, hardened body that adheres tightly to the epidermis. Removal should be performed with fine‑point tweezers, grasping as close to the skin as possible to extract the entire structure without leaving the capitulum embedded, which can cause secondary infection.