About Ticks

What are Ticks?

Ticks are parasitic vertebrates that infest every class of terrestrial vertebrate, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. A tick is not an insect. They are members of the class Arachnida, which includes spiders, scorpions, and mites. While there are many species of ticks throughout the world, only a few are known to cause problems to humans and pets in North America. Ticks are more likely to target dogs. If you live in an area populated with ticks you should keep a sharp eye on these parasites. They can transmit serious diseases (such as rickettsial diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis) to dogs and even to humans.

How do ticks get on dogs?

Ticks find their prey by detecting body odor and heat then directly grabbing hold of a host. To do this, the tick assumes a specific position that increases its chances of coming into contact with a host, likely atop tall blades of grass or bushes.

Dangers of Ticks

Ticks can carry and transmit diseases like:

• Lyme disease (Deer tick)
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (American dog tick)
• Babesiosis (Deer tick)
• Ehrlichiosis (Brown dog tick)
• Anaplasmosis (Deer tick)