What does a tick look like on a Yorkie? - briefly
A tick attached to a Yorkshire Terrier appears as a tiny, oval, dark brown or black parasite, flattened before feeding and becoming a swollen, reddish‑brown, balloon‑like bump after a blood meal. It often hides in the short coat, especially around the ears, neck, and between the toes.
What does a tick look like on a Yorkie? - in detail
A tick attached to a Yorkshire Terrier appears as a small, rounded body that adheres tightly to the skin. Prior to feeding, the parasite is flat, pale‑brown or reddish, and measures approximately 2–5 mm in length for an unfed adult. After ingesting blood, the abdomen expands dramatically, reaching up to 10 mm and taking on a darker, bluish‑gray hue. The dorsal surface remains smooth, while the ventral side shows the characteristic scutum—a hard shield covering the back of adult females, absent in males.
Life‑stage differences are pronounced:
- Larva: about 0.5 mm, translucent, six legs, rarely visible without magnification.
- Nymph: 1–2 mm, eight legs, reddish‑brown, semi‑engorged appearance.
- Adult (unfed): 3–5 mm, eight legs, flat body, uniform color.
- Adult (engorged): up to 10 mm, swollen abdomen, deepened coloration, visible mouthparts.
Typical attachment sites on a small‑breed dog include the ears, neck, behind the jaw, between the toes, and under the tail. The tick’s head inserts into the skin, forming a small, pale puncture surrounded by a ring of erythema. In later feeding stages, the surrounding skin may become inflamed, develop a scab, or exhibit a slight ulceration as the parasite enlarges.
Key visual indicators:
- Oval shape with a smooth outline.
- Color shift from light brown to dark gray as engorgement progresses.
- Noticeable increase in size within a few hours.
- Presence of a tiny, dark mouthpart protruding from the skin surface.
Recognition of these characteristics enables prompt identification and removal, reducing the risk of disease transmission.