Wood Tick: How To Identify It, Prevention and Solutions

Key points

• Wood ticks are found in wooded areas and long grass
• They can transmit diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever
• Prompt removal of a tick will help to prevent disease transfer
• Preventative treatment is recommended to stop your dog from getting ticks in the first place
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Common in

Any pet, of any age but particularly those that exercise in woodland areas

What are wood ticks?

Dermacentor variabilis or Wood ticks (otherwise known as the American Dog tick) are a type of hard-bodied tick which live in densely wooded areas and long grass, especially in areas where livestock is kept. They particularly like warm, humid conditions, so these ticks are usually dormant in cold winter months, breeding in springtime weather.

Ticks will climb up onto pieces of grass or other vegetation and wait for their host to brush past. They will stand with their front legs waving in the air, waiting to grab onto someone. Once onboard a host they will bite and latch on, feeding on their blood.

The issue with ticks is that they can carry an array of potentially harmful diseases. So, whilst the actual tick bite itself may only cause mild irritation, the infections that could be passed on to your dog are more problematic. Wood ticks can carry bacterial infections like Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Tularemia. This species of tick is not thought to transmit Lyme disease, which is carried by deer ticks instead.

Your dog is most likely to catch a tick during warm and wet seasons as this is when ticks are most active.

How to identify a wood tick

Identifying which type of tick your dog has is usually done by visual inspection. Wood ticks are usually distinctive with gray patterns on their bodies and mottled grey color on their back. They are usually oval with females being about 5mm long, expanding to 15mm long and 10mm wide when engorged with blood. Males are slightly smaller. Immature ticks have 6 legs, but adult ticks will have 8. A veterinarian should be able to help work out which type of tick it is or they might suggest passing it on to a laboratory for formal identification.

If your dog is suspected to be suffering from a tick-borne infection, then your veterinarian may need to run some tests to get a definitive diagnosis. Blood samples are usually taken which will screen your dog’s overall health as well as looking for specifically for infections.

How & where a dog catches wood ticks?

Ticks will be more prevalent in places where they can find hosts, which tend to be woodland areas and places with long grass. Areas where farm animals are kept or where wildlife frequently passes through usually have high levels of ticks. Your dog is most likely to catch a tick during warm and wet seasons as this is when ticks are most active.

It’s a good idea to check your pet’s coat regularly for ticks especially after a walk through long grass and other vegetation.

If your dog gets a wood tick the best thing you can do at home is to safely remove it with a proper tick hook, or a fine pair of tweezers.

Wood ticks best treatment options

The best treatment for wood ticks is prevention. There are a variety of different anti-tick products including spot-on treatments, tablets, and tick collars. You should speak to a veterinarian for advice as to which one would be most suitable for your dog, as they have the most up-to-date information about what is effective in your area.

If your dog is unwell following a tick bite, then he could require treatment for his illness. This usually involves courses of antibiotics but could also mean hospitalization if your pet is very poorly.

Home remedies & their effectiveness

• If your dog gets a wood tick the best thing you can do at home is to safely remove it. Prompt removal means there is less time for the transfer of harmful diseases from the tick’s saliva into your dog’s bloodstream. It is best to use a proper tick hook, or a fine pair of tweezers, to gently remove the tick. Slide the hook under the tick’s body and head, and gently twist so that it lets go. If you want to get the tick identified, then store it in a sealed container and take it to your veterinarian for advice.
• If you find a wood tick (or any tick!) on your dog, resist the temptation to remove it using other methods. You’ll find lots of home remedies for removing a wood tick online, but they can make things worse. Suffocating the tick with petroleum jelly or oil, or burning it with a match, are not vet-recommended methods for tick removal. Stressing the tick in this way causes the tick to panic, making it much more likely to regurgitate saliva into your dog, which increases the chance that it transfers disease.
• Other than the removal of ticks, the best thing you can do for your dog at home is to keep them up to date with a preventative tick treatment to stop ticks attaching in the first place. You should also keep your yard in good order to discourage tick infestations. Keep grass and plants well-trimmed and discourage rodent infestations, as these could be carrying immature ticks.

When to see a vet

You should see your veterinarian if your dog is poorly following a tick bite. Disease may take several days or weeks to develop so monitor your dog closely. Signs of Rocky Mountain fever include a high temperature (fever), joint pain, enlarged lymph nodes, anorexia, and vomiting or diarrhea.

If you are struggling to remove a tick safely yourself then your veterinarian can help you with this too.