Ticks on dogs: the diseases they carry, how to remove them, and keeping them out of your home

A tick is a small parasite that attaches to an animal's skin and feeds on its blood for days, swelling until it looks like a bean or a lentil. The most common type in Egypt is the brown dog tick, which can live and breed inside homes and kennels, not just in gardens and long grass. Ticks can also affect cats, though less often.

Why take ticks seriously?

While feeding, ticks can pass on several diseases that may be serious in dogs, including:

• Ehrlichiosis: infects blood cells and can cause fever, bleeding and long-lasting weakness if untreated.
• Babesiosis: a parasite that destroys red blood cells and causes anaemia.
• Anaplasmosis and other infections that are found with blood tests.

Signs can appear days or weeks after a tick bite, so always tell your vet if you have recently found a tick on your pet.

Signs that need a vet

• tiredness and loss of appetite;
• fever, or the dog feels hot and seems unwell;
• pale or yellowish gums;
• nosebleeds, or bruises and small red spots on the skin and gums;
• dark urine;
• weight loss, limping or swollen joints.

How to remove a tick safely

1. Wear gloves — ticks can bite people too.
2. Grip the tick with fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool, as close to your pet's skin as possible.
3. Pull upwards with steady, even pressure, without twisting or jerking, until it comes out whole.
4. Don't squeeze the tick's body or crush it with your fingers.
5. Clean the bite area with a suitable antiseptic and wash your hands well.
6. Dispose of the tick in alcohol or a sealed bag, or keep it in a small container if your vet wants to see it.

If a small part stays in the skin, it usually comes out on its own within days. Watch the spot and see your vet if it becomes swollen, painful or starts to ooze.

Where to look

Check your dog after every walk, especially:

• inside and around the ears;
• between the toes;
• around the neck and under the collar;
• under the front legs and between the back legs;
• around the tail and bottom.

Prevention at home

• Use a tick-prevention product chosen by your vet, and renew it on time without gaps.
• Remember that many tick products for dogs are not safe for cats.
• Clean your dog's sleeping area regularly and wash its bedding in hot water.
• Look out for cracks in walls, door frames and wooden kennels — brown dog ticks hide and lay eggs there.
• If ticks keep coming back, ask your vet or a licensed pest-control company about treating the home in a pet-safe way.

See also fleas and how to get rid of them and signs that need a vet.

Frequently asked questions