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Occasionally, dogs may become host to other small critters, such as ticks. When a dog finds a tick, he may try to get it off and, in some cases, even eat the tick! But what happens if a dog eats a tick?
Has your dog eaten a tick? Are you worried the tick will make your dog sick? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We understand it can be scary when your dog eats something like this.
We’ve gathered information about ticks and whether they can make a dog sick. Let’s get started!
What is a Tick?
Many people believe that ticks are insects; however, these small creatures are actually related to spiders. Ticks have eight legs and are classified as parasitic arachnids. Ticks have an oval-shaped body that’s flat, with eight legs.
Ticks love to eat the warm blood of mammals, so they like to hitch a ride on dogs, humans, and other animals. As ticks feed, their bodies expand to hold the blood. The tick becomes so swollen you can’t even see its legs.
There are many varieties of ticks in the US, including:
- American dog tick (also called a wood tick)
- Blacklegged tick (also called a deer tick)
- Brown dog tick
- Gulf Coast tick
- Lone star tick
- Rocky Mountain wood tick
- Western blacklegged tick
Ticks tend to live almost anywhere in the US, including in grasslands, wooded areas, leaf litter, and other places.
What happens if a dog eats a tick?
Ticks & Dogs
It may seem crazy that a dog would eat a dog; however, it is most likely when a dog is trying to remove a tick from his body. The dog must use his teeth to remove these horrible creatures. When the dog gets the tick off, chances are he will swallow it.
In most cases, the tick will not make the dog sick when eaten. The ticks are small, and the dog’s stomach acid does a good job of breaking down the tick’s body. However, it is possible that the tick could have infected the dog while attached to his body.
Ticks can carry a wide range of diseases that can affect dogs. So, it’s highly recommended that you call the vet and let them know what’s happened. They will have the best advice on how to help your fur baby and what symptoms to watch for.
The vet will probably also recommend putting your canine companion on a flea & tick treatment. These can help kill and repel ticks, protecting your dog against future tick-borne infections.
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Kyoko
Kyoko is from a family of 3 and moved to New York with her parents and siblings when she was 13. Kyoko is fond of spending a great amount of time with pets, specifically her beagle Luna and cat Missy. Her boyfriend often complains that she spends too much time giving attention to their animals. Kyoko has written dozens of articles concerning pets and is aiming at owning a pet shop one day!
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