What does a tick do after it has fed on a dog? - briefly
After engorgement, the tick detaches from the dog, digests the meal, and enters a quiescent phase; females then lay eggs while males prepare for the next developmental stage.
What does a tick do after it has fed on a dog? - in detail
After a dog‑attached tick has completed its blood meal, the parasite undergoes a series of physiological changes that prepare it for the next stage of its life cycle.
During the engorgement phase the tick’s body expands up to 100 times its original size. The midgut cells absorb the ingested plasma and red blood cells, converting them into nutrients that fuel rapid growth and protein synthesis. Hormonal signals, chiefly ecdysteroids, trigger the onset of molting.
Once fully engorged, the tick detaches from the host. Attachment structures weaken, and the tick slides off or is brushed away. The parasite then seeks a protected microhabitat—leaf litter, soil, or a sheltered crevice—where it can complete its molt.
The molting process varies by species and developmental stage:
- Larva → Nymph: After feeding on a dog, a larva molts within 3–7 days, emerging as a nymph.
- Nymph → Adult: A fed nymph requires 5–10 days in a humid environment before transforming into an adult.
- Adult (female) → Egg‑laying: A engorged adult female requires 7–14 days to digest the blood meal, develop eggs, and lay several thousand ova on the ground. Males typically die shortly after mating and do not lay eggs.
During digestion, the tick’s salivary glands continue to process pathogens acquired from the dog. Some bacteria, protozoa, or viruses may persist in the tick’s midgut and be transmitted to subsequent hosts during later feedings.
Environmental conditions—temperature, humidity, and shelter availability—govern the duration of each phase. Optimal humidity (≥80 % relative humidity) prevents desiccation, while temperatures between 20 °C and 30 °C accelerate development. In unfavorable conditions, the tick may enter a diapause state, extending its survival until conditions improve.
In summary, after feeding on a canine, a tick detaches, expands dramatically, molts into the next developmental stage, and, if female, proceeds to lay eggs. The process is driven by hormonal regulation, environmental cues, and the metabolic conversion of the blood meal into reproductive capacity.