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Tick infestation
Ticks are mites that attach themselves to a dog's skin to feed on blood for several days, then drop off to lay eggs. Their importance does not lie in the blood taken but in what they transmit: most serious dog blood diseases pass through th...
What is it?
Ticks are mites that attach themselves to a dog's skin to feed on blood for several days, then drop off to lay eggs.
Their importance does not lie in the blood taken but in what they transmit: most serious dog blood diseases pass through them.
In warm regions, the brown dog tick dominates. Its particularity is to colonize houses, niches and kennels: it hides in cracks in walls, under plinths and behind furniture, and can survive there for a long time without meals.
Commonly observed signs
These signs are neither exhaustive nor specific. Only a veterinarian can establish a diagnosis.
Related signs — each one links to its page:
Ticks visible on the skin: small and flat when they have just attached, large and gray like a grape once engorged with blood.
Preferred areas: neck, ears, around the eyes, armpits, groin, spaces between the fingers.
Small hard lump under the skin at the site of an old bite, which can persist for several weeks.
Redness, crust or small wound at the point of attachment, sometimes superinfected.
Itching and local licking, loss of hair around the lesions.
In case of massive infestation, especially in a puppy: pale gums, fatigue, weakness linked to blood loss.
Fever, depression or lameness occurring in the days or weeks that follow: these are no longer ticks but a transmitted disease, which should be examined.
When to consult without delay
This list does not replace veterinary advice. It gathers situations that justify a prompt consultation.
Causes and risk factors
Blood-sucking mites, mainly the brown dog tick in warm regions, as well as other species depending on the environment.
Ticks wait for their host on low vegetation, in tall grass and brush, or live directly in homes and kennels for the brown tick.
They identify the passage of an animal to the heat, vibrations and carbon dioxide of respiration.
Walks in tall grass, bushes, scrubland, hunting areas.
Outdoor living, kennel, kennel or poorly maintained yard.
Warm climate, where tick activity extends over a large part of the year.
Home already infested by the brown tick, with repeated reinfestations.
Lack of external antiparasitic treatment or irregular treatment.
Contact with stray dogs and frequentation of collective places.
Puppies and older dogs, more susceptible to blood loss.
Transmission
A tick is not transmitted from one dog to another by contact: each tick attaches from the environment.
Contamination comes from the environment: garden, scrubland, tall grass, but also walls and floors of an already infested house.
A dog can bring ticks home, where they shed, lay eggs and create a long-lasting home.
Transmitted diseases pass through the saliva of the tick during its blood meal: the longer the tick remains attached, the more the risk increases.
Diagnosis and care
Diagnosis is the veterinarian's responsibility, based on clinical examination and laboratory tests. Care is decided case by case.
The examination consists of methodically passing the fingers over the entire body of the dog, paying particular attention to the head, ears, neck, armpits, groin and between the fingers.
The veterinarian removes the ticks, checks that no mouthparts remain in the skin and treats local lesions.
In the event of a significant infestation, he assesses anemia by examining the mucous membranes and possibly taking a blood test.
Depending on the region, the context and the signs, it can offer screening for diseases transmitted by ticks, even at a distance from the bite.
Always report the approximate date of the bites: it helps interpret symptoms occurring later.
Treatment
Remove each tick with a suitable hook, using a rotating movement, grasping it as close as possible to the skin.
Never use ether, alcohol, gasoline or oil, and do not crush the tick: these actions cause it to regurgitate and increase the risk of transmission.
Disinfect the bite site after removal and monitor the area over the following days.
An external antiparasitic prescribed by the veterinarian eliminates the remaining ticks and protects for the following period; the form and duration of action are chosen according to the dog and its region.
Superinfected lesions may require local care or antibiotic treatment.
In the event of severe anemia in a puppy, treatment in a clinic is necessary.
A small hard lump persisting after removal most often corresponds to a local reaction and not to a head remaining in the skin; she monitors herself and gets checked if she gets worse.
Treatment depends on the cause and the animal's condition: it must be determined by a veterinarian. No self-medication.
Prevention
Regular external antiparasitic prescribed by the veterinarian, adapted to the lifestyle, region and age of the dog, without gaps in coverage between two applications.
Inspection of the dog after each outing and at least once a day during the season: this is the action that allows ticks to be removed before they transmit anything.
Garden maintenance: regular mowing, clearing, elimination of piles of leaves and damp shaded areas.
In the event of a brown tick infestation, also treat the habitat: niches, kennels, cracks, baseboards, textiles and bedding, possibly with professional intervention.
Wash bedding at high temperature and dry in the sun.
Avoid products intended for other species: some antiparasitic products for dogs are toxic to the household cat.
Treat all animals in the household in a coordinated manner.
Possible complications
Transmission of serious blood diseases: piroplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, hepatozoonosis, which are the subject of separate sheets.
Anemia due to blood loss in case of massive infestation, especially in puppies.
Bacterial superinfection of bite sites, local abscess.
Persistent inflammatory reaction in the form of a nodule.
Long-lasting infestation of the home by the brown tick, with repeated reinfestations as long as the environment is not treated.
When to see a veterinarian
Your dog is covered in ticks or you can't get one off.
The bite site is red, swollen, warm, or oozing.
Your dog has a fever, despondency, limp, or dark urine in the days or weeks following a bite.
His gums are pale or he gets unusually tired.
You find ticks in the house, walls or bedding.
Your puppy is infested: blood loss is more dangerous in him.
Transmission to humans
The tick itself is not transmitted from dog to human, but it can bite either: an infested dog signals a risky environment for the whole family.
In Tunisia and the Maghreb, ticks transmit Mediterranean spotted fever to humans, an illness which combines fever, rash and a small black sore at the bite site, and which requires medical advice.
Simple precautions: covering clothing and closed shoes in areas of tall grass, inspection of the skin upon return, rapid removal of any tick attached with a hook.
Never crush a tick with bare hands: wear gloves or use a tissue, then wash your hands.
If a person develops a fever, rash, or black spot at the bite site, seek medical attention, mentioning the bite.
Prognosis
Excellent for the infestation itself: the ticks removed and a suitable antiparasitic solve the problem quickly.
The prognosis actually depends on what the ticks may have transmitted: hence the importance of monitoring the dog during the weeks following a bite.
In a house infested by the brown tick, the difficulty is reinfestation: the solution involves joint treatment of the animals and the building, with patience.
Frequently asked questions
The head of the tick remained in the skin, is it serious?
It's rarely serious. Most often, the small lump that persists is a local reaction and not a tick fragment. Disinfect, monitor, and have the area examined if it becomes enlarged, red, or oozing.
Can you put the tick to sleep with ether or oil before removing it?
No, you shouldn't. These products cause the tick to regurgitate and increase the risk of transmitting disease. The correct action is immediate mechanical removal with a hook, by rotation.
My dog is treated and he still has ticks: is the product ineffective?
Not necessarily. Many products kill the tick after it has attached itself, so it can be seen on a properly protected dog. What matters is that they die quickly. Talk to the vet if they remain engorged and alive.
Why are ticks found in the house?
This is the signature of the brown dog tick, which breeds indoors and hides in cracks, baseboards and kennels. Treating the animal alone is not enough: the building must also be treated.
Should we treat ticks all year round?
In warm regions, ticks remain active for much of the year and the brown tick lives inside homes. The local veterinarian determines the period of coverage appropriate for your situation.
References
ESCCAP — European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites
CDC — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Content reviewed by the TunisieVet editorial team · Updated 09 August 2026
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