Where Ticks Hide on Dogs and Cats: A Simple Body Check Guide

Ticks like warm, hidden spots with thin skin, such as inside the ears, under the collar, between the toes, in the armpits and groin, and under the tail. A check of these places every week helps you find ticks early, and a vet can advise on tests if your pet becomes unwell.

Why do ticks pick certain spots?

A tick looks for a place where it can attach and feed without being disturbed. Ticks tend to choose spots that are:

• Warm and shaded from the sun
• Hard for the pet to lick, scratch or bite
• Thin-skinned, with a good blood supply

That is why folds, corners and creases are popular spots. Ticks can also sit on open areas such as the back and sides. Use the list below as a guide, not a rule, and check the whole body.

Which body parts should you check?

• Ears. Look at the inside and outside of the ear flap and at the base of the ear. Ticks can sometimes go into the ear canal. A pet with ticks in or near the ear may shake its head, scratch, or have red, scabby or smelly ears.
• Neck and under the collar. The collar keeps this area warm and covered. Take it off and look underneath.
• Between the toes and around the paw pads. The skin is soft and hidden. Licking the paws or limping can be a sign. Spread the toes apart to look.
• Armpits and groin. These warm folds are easy to miss. Lift each leg and part the fur.
• Tail base, under the tail and around the anus. A pet may chew at its tail or drag its bottom on the ground.
• Head and face. Check the eyebrows, eyelids, lips, chin and jawline. Ticks here can cause redness or swelling.
• Back, chest, belly and inner thighs. Run your fingers against the direction of the fur and feel for small bumps.

Cats groom themselves a lot, so ticks on cats are often found on the head, neck and ears, which are harder for a cat to reach. Check these places with care and gentleness.

What problems can ticks cause?

At the spot where a tick attaches, the skin may show red bumps and scabs. Over time there can be hair loss and thickened skin, and the skin or ear may become infected.

The bigger worry is illness. Ticks can pass on germs that cause tick fever in dogs, with signs such as fever, weakness, pale gums and bleeding. A tick can pass on germs and then drop off, so your pet can fall ill even if you removed every tick you found. Signs may appear days to weeks later.

If your pet seems unwell after tick exposure, your vet may advise a Complete Blood Count (CBC) and a Blood Protozoa (Blood Parasite Smear), which can be done for dogs and cats. The Tick Bone Panel groups these with liver and kidney tests. For dogs, a rapid kit test or a PCR tick panel may also be used. A registered veterinarian reads the results together with your pet's signs and history.

Related reading: Tick Fever in Dogs: Signs, Causes and Tick Panel Tests

How do you check your pet at home?

• Check at least once a week, and after walks or play outdoors.
• Work in good light. Run your hands slowly over the whole body and part the fur to see the skin.
• Look at each area listed above, one by one. In a long-haired or thick-coated pet, take extra time, because ticks can hide under the fur.
• Check yourself and other pets in the home too, because ticks can move between them.
• If you find a tick, ask your vet to show you the safe way to remove it. Do not squeeze, burn or put oil or any chemical on the tick.
• Ask your vet which tick prevention suits your pet. Never use a product made for dogs on a cat unless your vet says it is safe, because some dog products are toxic to cats.

When to talk to your vet

See your vet if your pet has fever, weakness, poor appetite, pale or yellow gums, bleeding, red spots on the skin or lameness, even if you cannot find any ticks. Also ask for help if ticks keep coming back, or if you find many ticks at once.

Pashupatinath Vet Lab provides free sample collection anywhere in Bhopal. Outside the city, samples can be sent to the lab by courier, bus parcel or through your local vet, and the lab coordinates by phone or WhatsApp. Routine tests such as a CBC are normally reported the same day or within 24 hours. See the test lists for Dog and Cat.