What does a tick attached to a dog look like? - briefly
A tick on a dog appears as a small, round or oval parasite attached to the skin, typically brown or gray, with a flat dorsal surface before feeding and a swollen, balloon‑like abdomen after blood intake. It is commonly located in hair‑sparse regions such as behind the ears, under the neck, or between the toes.
What does a tick attached to a dog look like? - in detail
A tick attached to a dog is a small, oval‑shaped arachnid that becomes increasingly swollen as it feeds. In its unfed state, the body measures about 2–5 mm in length, appears pale gray or brown, and has a smooth, flattened dorsal surface. The anterior legs are longer than the others and are used to grasp the host’s fur, while the posterior legs are shorter and positioned close to the body.
When the parasite begins to ingest blood, its abdomen expands dramatically. An engorged specimen can reach 10–15 mm in length, sometimes larger, and takes on a bluish‑gray or reddish hue. The skin around the attachment site often shows a small, raised, firm nodule, sometimes surrounded by a thin ring of redness. The tick’s mouthparts, called the hypostome, remain partially visible as a dark, pointed structure protruding from the dog’s skin.
Key visual characteristics:
- Size: 2–5 mm (flat, unfed) → up to 15 mm (engorged)
- Color: light brown or gray → dark gray, bluish, or reddish when full of blood
- Shape: oval, smooth dorsal shield; legs clustered near the body
- Mouthparts: dark, needle‑like hypostome embedded in the skin
- Skin reaction: small, firm bump; possible peripheral erythema
The attachment point is typically on thin‑skinned areas such as the ears, neck, between the shoulder blades, under the tail, or on the paws, where the tick can remain concealed while it feeds. The combination of size increase, color change, and the visible mouthparts distinguishes a feeding tick from other skin lesions on a dog.