What does a tick that has embedded in a dog look like? - briefly
An embedded tick looks like a small, rounded bump on the dog’s skin, typically gray‑brown, with a tiny dark point (the mouthparts) sometimes visible at the surface. The area may show slight redness or inflammation, while the tick’s body remains firmly attached and can be hard to detect without close examination.
What does a tick that has embedded in a dog look like? - in detail
A tick that has attached to a dog presents as a small, rounded lump on the skin. In the early stage, the body measures 2–5 mm, appears pale or brown, and the legs are visible around the perimeter. As blood feeding progresses, the abdomen expands, becoming oval‑shaped and markedly larger—often reaching 10–12 mm in length. The engorged tick turns a deep reddish‑brown or gray‑black color, and its legs may become less distinct due to the swollen body.
The attachment point is usually a smooth, slightly raised area where the tick’s mouthparts have penetrated the epidermis. The feeding apparatus—consisting of a barbed hypostome—remains embedded beneath the surface, often invisible without magnification. The surrounding skin may show a faint halo of redness, but inflammation can be minimal if the dog’s immune response is subdued.
Typical locations include:
- Base of the ears
- Neck and shoulder region
- Between the toes and pads
- Under the tail
- Abdomen and groin folds
Signs that the tick is fully embedded:
- Abdomen markedly enlarged, resembling a tiny grape.
- Darkening of the body color, indicating blood intake.
- Absence of movement; the tick remains stationary.
- Presence of a small, pin‑point opening at the center where the hypostome is inserted.
If the tick is removed before full engorgement, the body remains small, flat, and lighter in color, with visible legs and a clear attachment point. After removal, the bite site may exhibit a tiny puncture wound that can bleed slightly and may develop a scab within a day.