What does a tick do to a dog? - briefly
Ticks attach to a dog’s skin, feed on blood, and can transmit diseases such as Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, or Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Their bites may cause irritation, inflammation, or secondary infections if not removed promptly.
What does a tick do to a dog? - in detail
Ticks attach to a dog’s skin by inserting their mouthparts and secreting cement-like saliva that secures them in place. The feeding process lasts from a few hours to several days, during which the parasite extracts blood and injects bioactive substances that can interfere with the host’s hemostasis and immune response.
The direct consequences of attachment include:
- Local irritation: redness, swelling, and itching at the bite site.
- Secondary infection: scratching or bacterial colonization of the wound can lead to cellulitis or abscess formation.
- Anemia: heavy infestations may cause measurable loss of red blood cells, especially in small or young animals.
Disease transmission represents the most serious risk. Common pathogens delivered by ticks to canines are:
- Borrelia burgdorferi – the agent of Lyme disease, producing fever, joint pain, and renal complications.
- Ehrlichia canis – causing canine ehrlichiosis, characterized by fever, thrombocytopenia, and weight loss.
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum – leading to granulocytic anaplasmosis with lethargy, lameness, and immune‑mediated disorders.
- Babesia spp. – protozoan parasites that cause hemolytic anemia and splenomegaly.
- Rickettsia rickettsii – Rocky Mountain spotted fever, presenting with fever, petechiae, and vascular inflammation.
- Tick‑borne encephalitis virus – rare in dogs but capable of inducing neurological signs.
In some cases, neurotoxins released by certain tick species produce tick paralysis, a rapid-onset weakness that can progress to respiratory failure if the parasite is not removed promptly.
Preventive measures focus on regular inspection, prompt removal, and the use of approved acaricides (topical spot‑on products, collars, oral medications). Environmental control—maintaining short grass, removing leaf litter, and treating kennels—reduces exposure. After removal, the bite site should be cleaned with antiseptic solution, and the animal monitored for signs of infection, anemia, or systemic illness. Veterinary evaluation is warranted if fever, lethargy, joint swelling, or neurological deficits develop.