Ticks are among the most troublesome parasites for owners of dogs, cats and livestock, because they attach to the skin and feed on blood for days, and they can transmit diseases to animals and sometimes to people. Worse, they can multiply inside the home if the infestation is not caught early.
In this guide we explain what ticks look like and their life stages, how to remove them from your pet correctly, and how to clean the home and prevent reinfestation.
Appearance: a small arachnid related to spiders (it has eight legs), brown in color, which swells as it fills with blood.
Life stages: egg, larva, nymph, then adult, and it needs a blood meal at nearly every stage.
Inside the home: the brown dog tick can complete its whole life cycle indoors, hiding in cracks, behind baseboards and in curtains.
Risk: it can transmit diseases such as ehrlichiosis and babesiosis to dogs, and cause anemia in severe infestations.
The rule: treating the animal alone is not enough; you must treat the surrounding environment (the home, shelter and garden) at the same time.
How do you recognize ticks?
- Small brown or gray lumps attached to the skin behind the ears, between the toes or under the armpits.
- Constant itching and scratching, and inflamed or red patches around the bite.
- General weakness, loss of appetite or pale gums in severe infestations (see a veterinarian).
- Small ticks crawling on walls, floors or where the animal sleeps.
How do you remove a tick from a dog or cat?
Correct manual removal
- Use fine tweezers and gloves, and grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
- Pull it out steadily without twisting or squeezing its body.
- Clean the bite area with antiseptic, then place the tick in alcohol and dispose of it.
- Do not use oils, fuel or fire, because they increase the risk of transmitting infection.
Preventive treatment for the animal
Ask your veterinarian for a product suited to the animal's type, weight and age, because products that suit dogs can harm cats. For a similar problem, see our guide to cat fleas.
Controlling ticks in the home and on the farm
- Vacuum floors, carpets and furniture daily, and dispose of the vacuum bag outside the house.
- Wash the animal's bedding in hot water regularly.
- Treat cracks, the areas under baseboards and wall edges with a suitable insecticide registered for household use.
- On farms and in barns: reduce tall weeds, clean the resting areas and treat the walls and roofs.
You will find control options in the insect and pest control section, always following the label instructions and safety guidance.
Common mistakes
- Treating the animal only and leaving the home and bedding untreated.
- Pulling the tick incorrectly so that its head stays inside the skin.
- Using a product that is not suitable for the animal.
- Stopping control after the first week while eggs and larvae remain in the cracks.
Where Do Ticks Hide in the Home?
Ticks do not stay on the animal all the time. After feeding, they drop off and look for a dark place to molt and lay eggs, so you find them in wall cracks, behind baseboards, under carpets and in the animal's resting areas. These hiding places are the real target of treatment, not just the animal.
The Tick Life Cycle
A tick passes through four stages: egg, larva, nymph and adult, and needs a blood meal at almost every stage. A female lays thousands of eggs after feeding, so the problem grows fast if left alone. Knowing this cycle explains why the infestation returns after a few weeks when only the animal is treated and the place is ignored.
Diseases Ticks Can Spread
Ticks transmit diseases to animals such as tick fever and anemia, and in some regions they can spread diseases to people. That is why removing a tick early matters: the longer it stays attached, the higher the chance of infection.
Frequently asked questions
Can ticks pass from a dog to a person?
They can attach to people too if they cannot find their usual host, so wash the bite area, watch for any symptoms and consult a doctor if in doubt.
How long can a tick live inside the home?
It can live for weeks or even months without a blood meal, depending on the stage and conditions, which is why the home should be treated more than once.
Does washing the animal kill ticks?
No. Bathing alone does not remove attached ticks and does not eliminate the eggs in the home.
What is the difference between ticks and fleas?
Ticks are larger, attach to the skin and feed on blood for a long time, while fleas are small, jump quickly and move through the fur.
When should I go to the veterinarian?
If the animal becomes lethargic, loses its appetite, has pale gums or runs a fever after a tick bite.
Do ticks bite people?
Yes, a tick may attach to a person if no animal is available, though dogs are its preferred host. Check your body after walking in areas with animals.
How do I know ticks are in the house?
Small ticks on walls or near the animal's bed, or ticks coming back on the animal after treatment, show there are hiding places in the home.
Do ticks fly or jump?
No, ticks neither fly nor jump. They crawl and cling to an animal or person who passes by.
How do I stop ticks coming back?
Combine treating the animal with treating the place: deep cleaning, washing the animal's bedding, sealing cracks and treating hiding places with a suitable product, then following up after two weeks.