Diagnosing a Tick Infestation

How to check your dog for ticks

Ticks attach to your dog by inserting their mouthparts into your dog’s skin. Many ticks also produce a sticky, gluelike substance that helps them to remain attached. After attaching to your dog, ticks begin feeding on your dog’s blood. The places where ticks attach can become red and irritated.

Diagnosis is made on physical examination of host, manual removal of tick, and identification. The tick is removed by grasping it as close to the skin as possible with fine forceps or tweezers. The tick is then directly extracted using slow, steady pressure. The tick should not be crushed, twisted, or jerked out of the skin because this may cause the head to become detached and left in the skin, which may lead to infection or granuloma formation.

Guidelines for the optimal control of internal and external parasites
(CAPC Website)

 

Mouthparts of a tick under the microscope