Last Updated: 07/05/2025
How Do Dogs Get Ticks?
Ticks are an ever-present danger to dogs in Australia. Find out how dogs get ticks so you can take preventative steps to avoid transmissible diseases and life threatening paralysis for your dog.
Author: Dr Maree Monaghan BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 45 minutes - long read
Ticks, those tiny arachnid menaces, stealthily latch onto our canine companions, putting them at risk of discomfort, transmissible diseases and life threatening paralysis.
Understanding how dogs acquire ticks is crucial for responsible pet ownership.
In this article, we embark on a journey through the lifecycle of ticks and explore the different types of ticks that can afflict our four-legged friends. From the Paralysis Tick to the Brown Dog Tick, each species brings unique challenges.
As we delve into the common ways dogs come into contact with these blood-sucking parasites, the importance of prevention becomes evident. Join us in unravelling the mystery of how these arachnids find their way onto our dogs, and discover proactive measures to keep our furry friends tick-free and thriving.
Skip to a Section:
1. What do ticks look like up close?
3. What are the different types of ticks and where are they found?
What do ticks look like up close?
Ticks are often mistakenly thought of as insects, however, they belong to the arachnid class along with spiders, scorpions and mites. Members of this family have eight legs, whereas insects have six. Insects also have a pair of antennae, three main body parts and sometimes have wings while arachnids have two main body parts and don't have wings or antennae.
The largest part of an adult tick's body is the abdomen which enlarges when the tick feeds on blood and has the eight legs attached to it. The "head" or "capitulum" consists of:
• Two "palps" - sensory organs for detecting the approach of a host
• Two "chelicerae" - knife-like structures for cutting through the host's skin
• One "hypostome" - shaped like a needle with barbs on the outside, the hypostome is inserted in the hole made by the chelicerae and used to suck blood. The barbs help anchor the hypostome in the host's skin and it is these which make ticks difficult to remove.
As you can see, ticks don't have a "head" in the traditional sense and so it is impossible to leave the "head" behind when a tick is removed.
Tick Lifecycle
The life cycle of a tick consists of four stages - egg, larva, nymph and adult. Depending on the species, female ticks lay 3,000 to 8,000 eggs over several days or weeks in vegetation and leaf litter. The larvae that hatch from these eggs can be distinguished from nymphs because they have six legs rather than eight. After feeding on blood from a host, larval ticks moult and turn into eight legged nymphs that then moult after a blood meal to become male or female adult ticks. Larvae and nymphs are very small, about 0.5 -1.5 mm long, and are often called seed ticks or grass ticks.
Adult male ticks do attach to a host and have a small feed of blood, however, their main purpose is to find females to mate with. Females must have a large blood meal in order to lay eggs and will stay attached to the host for several days. When feeding, ticks secrete saliva that has anaesthetic properties to decrease the amount of irritation to the host and the chances of the host rubbing or licking them off. Ticks feed on a variety of animals including mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, however, most tick species have a preference for a particular type of host.
Larval, nymph and adult ticks find hosts by climbing up vegetation like long grass and waiting for a suitable host for them to attach to walk past. Ticks know when a host is nearby because they can sense the carbon dioxide that the host is exhaling as well as its body heat. When the host gets close enough, the tick uses its front legs to grab on and then crawls around looking for the best place to attach and start feeding.
What are the different tick types and where are they found?
Paralysis tick
There are two types of paralysis ticks in Australia:
• Eastern Paralysis Tick (Ixodes holocyclus) is found on on the coastal strip of eastern Australia ranging from northern Queensland to northern Victoria
• Southern Paralysis Tick (Ixodes cornuatus) which occurs in Victoria and Tasmania.
They are found most commonly in wet grassy forests and temperate rainforests in moist, humid coastal areas within 20 km of the coast, however, paralysis ticks have been found in areas more than 100 km inland. They are not known to occur in South Australia, Western Australia or the Northern Territory.
Paralysis tick larvae are most active during Autumn, nymphs during Winter and adults during Spring. The tick season in Australia is often considered to range from July to December when adult ticks are more common, however, the risk of exposure to ticks exists throughout the year.
Paralysis ticks aren't choosy about the hosts that they feed from. Domestic animals like dogs, cats, chickens and other fowl, native animals such as wallabies, kangaroos, bandicoots, possums and dingoes, introduced pests such as rabbits and black rats, as well as humans are all susceptible.
Paralysis ticks not only secrete an anaesthetic like substance in their saliva when they feed, their saliva also contains a toxin that disrupts the connection between nerves and muscles in the body and causes weakness and paralysis.
Brown Dog Tick
The Brown Dog Tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, is the most widely distributed tick in the world and is found in all states in Australia. This tick prefers to feed on one host, dogs, although it will feed on a wide variety of mammals. One thing that sets this species apart from other ticks is the fact that it can complete its entire life cycles either indoors or outdoors. This means that dog kennels and people's homes can become infested with Brown Dog Ticks.
Fortunately, Brown Dog Ticks do not cause paralysis, however, they can transmit pathogens that cause serious diseases in dogs, including:
Ehrlichiosis - Australia was considered free of this disease until it was discovered in May 2020 in Western Australia. Since then, it has spread to the northern regions of Western Australia, the northern regions of South Australia, all of the Northern Territory and north-western Queensland. This disease is caused by a bacteria called Ehrlichia canis which is ingested by ticks from an infected animal and then passed on to another dog when the tick feeds. Symptoms of Ehrlichiosis include lameness, depression, weight loss, anorexia and fever
Babesiosis - In Australia, this disease is usually caused by a protozoan called Babesia canis or, less commonly, Babesia gibsoni. Brown Dog Ticks transmit these protozoa and dogs can also be infected with Babesia via bites from an infected dog and transmission from mother to pups. Babesia spp invade and destroy red blood cells leading to anaemia, lethargy, lack of appetite and dark coloured urine.
Bush Tick
Cattle are the preferred host of the Bush Tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) although it will also infest dogs, horses, and some species of marsupials and birds. It prefers warm, humid climates where it has access to cattle and is found in coastal areas of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. Like Brown Dog Ticks, Bush Ticks do not cause paralysis and can transmit Babesiosis. The most common symptom of a Bush Tick bite is irritation at the site of the bite.
Where do dogs get ticks?
At Home
Even in urban areas, wildlife and introduced pests like rats are an important source of tick infestations in dogs. Native wildlife, particularly bandicoots and possums, are the natural hosts of Eastern Paralysis Ticks and are able to carry multiple ticks without being affected by their toxin. Adult female ticks that enter your yard while they are feeding on wild animals will drop off and find a nice cosy place like a pile of leaf litter to lay their eggs.
You can also bring ticks on to your property if you are unlucky enough to pick up a tick when walking through long grass or in the bush. This can lead to your property becoming infested with ticks that will attach to your dog to feed on blood.
You can decrease the chances of a tick infestation on your property by:
Mowing lawns and pruning and shrubs regularly
Removing weeds and leaf litter
Creating a plant free buffer zone between your yard and the bush if your property adjoins bushland.
Having your property treated by a pest control company or using a "do it yourself" tick control product in your yard.
Using insect repellents containing picaridin, DEET or lemon eucalyptus on yourself and your clothes before going into areas where there are ticks.
Checking yourself and your clothes for ticks after being in tick areas. Ticks on clothing can be killed by placing clothes in a hot dryer for 20 minutes.
Although most ticks prefer to live outdoors, the Brown Dog Tick can complete its entire life cycle indoors. Tick infestations can occur in houses, kennels, outbuildings and sheds in hiding places such as around windows and doors, in floor boards, in seams of cushions and mattresses and in carpets. This is why it is so important to ensure even indoor dogs are protected against ticks.
Away from Home
Ticks are not able to move very far on their own as they can only crawl around on their short legs, however, they can be transported just about anywhere by one of the hosts that they have chosen to feed from. This means that, theoretically, your dog can pick up a tick in any location in ticks' geographic range. The most likely places are those that have vegetation for the ticks to climb up such as parks and bushland, however, your dog can still be unlucky enough to pick up a tick sitting in a cafe or during a visit to a friend's house.
Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks
The good news is that there are many safe and effective products available to protect your dog from ticks and the diseases that they carry. Many of these products also protect against other parasites such as fleas, heartworm, and intestinal worms.
• Topical/Spot on Treatments: The majority of these products need to be applied every two weeks with the exception of Bravecto Spot On which is applied every 6 months
• Chewables: Bravecto Chews are the longest acting in this group and are generally given every three months. Other products in this group are given once per month.
• Collars: Tick collars vary as to the length of time they are effective, however, most collars protect for a minimum of six weeks.
• Sprays: These can be purchased as "ready to use" products or concentrates that are diluted before use.
• Shampoos: Tick and flea shampoos usually only kill brown dog ticks and do not have a lasting effect.
The best way to ensure your dog is getting the best possible tick protection is to ask your vet which products they recommend based on the risk in your area.
It is very important to note that NO product is 100% effective in stopping your dog being bitten by a tick. Checking your dog for ticks every day, particularly after they have been outdoors, is crucial for protecting your dog against tick paralysis and tick borne diseases.
Tick Searching
A tick-search involves "walking" your fingers through your dog's coat and checking their skin for any lumps, bumps or "craters". If you feel a lump or a crater, part the hair so you can see if it looks like a tick or a "crater" in the skin where a tick has been feeding and has since dropped off.
Most ticks attach around the head and neck, although they can be found anywhere on the body. Check the entire body especially the nooks and crannies inside the ears and the mouth, between toes, under collars and around the genitals. Keeping your dog's coat short in Spring and Summer is a good way to make tick searching a lot easier.
Tick Removal
If you do find a tick on your dog, you will need to remove it using tweezers or a tick removal tool.
Using tweezers
Spread the fur and locate the tick
Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible taking care not to pinch your dog's skin
Pull steadily upwards
Using a tick removal tool
Choose the most suitable hook for the size of the tick
Holding it vertical to the tick, hook the flat forked part under the tick, between it and your dog's skin
When the tick is firmly held, rotate the twister several times
The tick will release its hold without pulling
Put the tick in a sealed container with some isopropyl alcohol (this will kill the tick) in case you need to have the species of tick identified by your vet. If you live in an area where there are paralysis ticks, contact your vet for advice about what to do next.
Final Thoughts
The life threatening diseases that ticks can cause in dogs can be avoided by:
• Ensuring dogs are treated with effective tick control products regularly
• Checking dogs thoroughly every day for the presence of ticks
• Being prepared with the correct tools and knowledge to safely and effectively remove ticks from your dog
• Keeping your property free from long grass, overgrown plants and leaf litter and treating with pesticides when appropriate
Further Reading
Want to read more? Check out our other articles:
Flea, Tick and Worm Prevention for Dogs
Want to know more? Check out our Discover Page for more tips from our expert vets on keeping your pets happy and healthy.
