What does a tick look like on a dog's ear? - briefly
A tick attached to a dog’s ear appears as a small, flat, oval parasite that is gray‑brown when unfed and expands to a reddish‑brown, balloon‑like form after feeding. It often looks like a tiny bump with visible legs near the skin surface.
What does a tick look like on a dog's ear? - in detail
Ticks attached to a dog’s ear present a distinct set of visual cues that differ by life stage and species.
The adult female, the most commonly encountered stage, appears as a flattened, oval body measuring 4–6 mm when unfed. Its dorsal surface is brown or reddish‑brown, sometimes with a lighter scutum (shield) near the head. The ventral side shows a darker, almost black coloration. The anterior end features a pair of forward‑projecting mouthparts—hook‑shaped hypostomes—that embed into the skin and remain visible as a tiny, dark protrusion.
A partially fed adult enlarges dramatically, becoming engorged and balloon‑shaped. The body may swell to 10 mm or more, turning a grayish‑blue or reddish hue. The scutum does not expand, so the unshed outer shell appears as a small, dark patch near the head, while the rest of the body stretches.
Nymphs measure 1–2 mm, with a translucent amber color that may appear pale against the ear’s fur. Their mouthparts are less conspicuous but still cause a pinpoint attachment point.
Larvae, often called seed ticks, are 0.5 mm in size, virtually invisible without magnification. They are pale and lack a scutum, making detection difficult; a cluster of several larvae may be seen as a tiny, whitish speck.
Key visual indicators on the ear include:
- Small, round or oval bump where the tick is anchored.
- Visible mouthpart insertion point, often a tiny dark dot at the center.
- Localized swelling or redness around the attachment site.
- In engorged specimens, a markedly enlarged, balloon‑like shape with a darker head and lighter body.
The ear’s thin skin and abundant blood supply make it a preferred attachment zone. Ticks typically attach to the inner surface of the pinna, the base of the ear, or the skin folds, where they are less likely to be dislodged by grooming.
Recognizing these characteristics enables prompt removal and reduces the risk of disease transmission.