Do Dog Ticks Bite Humans?
Ticks pose a significant health risk to humans and many other animals, including our beloved pets. That risk is why a few species of ticks have the word “dog” in their name. These ticks may be more likely to feed on canines and other animals of that size, but what about humans?
Unfortunately, when it comes to dog ticks, you don’t just have to think about your pets’ health, but yours as well. Different kinds of dog ticks can spread tick-borne diseases to humans and pets, so it’s essential to know which ones may be prevalent in your area, what risks they pose, and how to protect yourself from them.
Types of Dog Ticks
Dog ticks are given their name because they are commonly found on our canine friends. The most well-known “dog ticks” are the Brown Dog Tick and American Dog Tick.
What is the difference between these two types of ticks?
American Dog Ticks
American Dog Ticks are hard ticks that are chestnut brown with white streaks or spots on their backs, while engorged females may become gray. These ticks have different kinds of hosts throughout the three stages of their life cycle. Adults are most likely to go for medium-sized hosts like dogs, and potentially humans.
They are often found along the edge of forests and areas with little or no tree cover, like trails and grassy fields. Their territory spans throughout North America, most often between the East Coast and The Rocky Mountains, but occasionally on the west coast, especially in California.
Brown Dog Ticks
Brown Dog Ticks typically live in human dwellings or dog kennels. They are also hard ticks that tend to be brown. These ticks can be found all over the United States, especially in the Southern part of the country.
Although these are the only ticks with the word “dog” in them, they aren’t the only ticks that may pose a risk to your pets.
Other ticks that may bite and potentially spread disease to dogs include:
- Deer Tick (Black-Legged Tick)
- Lone Star Tick
- Asian Longhorned Tick
- Pacific Coast Tick
- Rocky Mountain Tick
- Western Black-Legged Tick
What About Deer Ticks?
Dog ticks aren’t the only kind of tick named after an animal. One of the most well-known ticks out there is the deer tick. But what’s the difference between the deer tick vs. dog tick?
Dog ticks tend to be bigger than deer ticks, at around double their size. They also have different markings and colors. While deer ticks can transmit Lyme disease, dog ticks don’t. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t pose potential risks.
Another critical thing to note about deer ticks is that while they don’t have “dog” in their name, they can still be carried into the house on pets.
Dog Ticks Risk to Humans
It’s nerve-wracking enough to think about the health of your pets being compromised by tick bites, but you also have to think of your health.
Different types of dog ticks can bite and potentially spread tick-borne diseases to humans. Therefore, the risk posed varies depending on the type of tick.
American Dog Ticks are especially risky as both adults and nymphs can potentially transmit the bacteria that causes Tularemia and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF). RMSF is potentially life-threatening and can cause symptoms like respiratory issues, vomiting, rash, fever, and abdominal pain. Symptoms of Tularemia, on the other hand, include fever, swelling of lymph glands, ulcers at the infection site, and pneumonia.
Brown Dog Ticks can also transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, although they rarely feed on humans.
Although dog ticks can potentially infect humans with different illnesses, they pose the most significant risk to dogs, which is why it’s vital to know how to protect yourself, your family, and your pup.
Dogs and Bartonella
In addition to the diseases listed above, dogs may carry the Bartonella vinsonii subspecies berkhoffii, Bartonella henselae, and other Bartonella species. Bartonella infection is more likely to cause clinical symptoms in dogs than in cats.
Low seroprevalence in worldwide dog populations suggests that dogs are probably not a natural reservoir for B. vinsonii berkhoffii. In addition to dogs and cats, numerous domestic and wild animals, including bovine, canine, human, and rodent species, can serve as reservoir hosts for various Bartonella species.
At the moment, it is not yet known whether dogs are able to transmit Bartonella infections to humans.
Protecting Yourself and Your Dog From Ticks
Dog ticks especially pose a risk for homes with dogs, as ticks can hitch a ride on dogs, bringing them into the house. So be diligent in protecting the whole family from tick-borne diseases, including your pets.
Remember these tips when you’re in areas where ticks are commonly found:
- Wear pants tucked into long socks
- Put long hair up
- Use bug spray that includes DEET or lemon-eucalyptus essential oils
- Thoroughly check yourself and your pets for ticks after possible exposure
- Know how to remove a tick properly
It’s also important to know how to watch for symptoms of tick-borne illnesses in yourself, your family, and your pets. Signs your pet may have gotten a tick bite include loss of appetite or vomiting, decreased energy, weakness, red or glassy-looking eyes, and wobbling or limping.
If you get bit by a tick, it’s important to save it for testing if possible, as well as seek out testing for yourself through a reliable source like IGeneX. Tick bites can be scary, but diligence and swift action can prevent most long-term complications.
Ticks pose a significant health risk to humans and many other animals, including our beloved pets. That risk is why a few species of ticks have the word “dog” in their name. These ticks may be more likely to feed on canines and other animals of that size, but what about humans?
Unfortunately, when it comes to dog ticks, you don’t just have to think about your pets’ health, but yours as well. Different kinds of dog ticks can spread tick-borne diseases to humans and pets, so it’s essential to know which ones may be prevalent in your area, what risks they pose, and how to protect yourself from dog tick bites.
Types of Dog Ticks
Dog ticks are given their name because they are commonly found on our canine friends. The most well-known “dog ticks” are the Brown Dog Tick and American Dog Tick.
What is the difference between these two types of ticks?
American Dog Ticks
American Dog Ticks are hard ticks that are chestnut brown with white streaks or spots on their backs, while engorged females may become gray. These ticks have different kinds of hosts throughout the three stages of their life cycle. Adults are most likely to go for medium-sized hosts like dogs, and potentially humans.
They are often found along the edge of forests and areas with little or no tree cover, like trails and grassy fields. Their territory spans throughout North America, most often between the East Coast and The Rocky Mountains, but occasionally on the west coast, especially in California.
Brown Dog Ticks
Brown Dog Ticks typically live in human dwellings or dog kennels. They are also hard ticks that tend to be brown. These ticks can be found all over the United States, especially in the Southern part of the country.
Although these are the only ticks with the word “dog” in them, they aren’t the only ticks that may pose a risk to your pets.
Other ticks that may bite and potentially spread disease to dogs include:
- Deer Tick (Black-Legged Tick)
- Lone Star Tick
- Asian Longhorned Tick
- Pacific Coast Tick
- Rocky Mountain Tick
- Western Black-Legged Tick
What About Deer Ticks?
Dog ticks aren’t the only kind of tick named after an animal. One of the most well-known ticks out there is the deer tick. But what’s the difference between the deer tick vs. dog tick?
Dog ticks tend to be bigger than deer ticks, at around double their size. They also have different markings and colors. While deer ticks can transmit Lyme disease, dog ticks don’t. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t pose potential risks.
Another critical thing to note about deer ticks is that while they don’t have “dog” in their name, they can still be carried into the house on pets.
Dog Ticks Risk to Humans
It’s nerve-wracking enough to think about the health of your pets being compromised by tick bites, but you also have to think of your health.
Different types of dog ticks can bite and potentially spread tick-borne diseases to humans. Therefore, the risk posed by a dog tick bite varies depending on the type of tick.
American Dog Tick bites are especially risky as both adults and nymphs can potentially transmit the bacteria that causes Tularemia and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF). RMSF is potentially life-threatening and can cause symptoms like respiratory issues, vomiting, rash, fever, and abdominal pain. Symptoms of Tularemia, on the other hand, include fever, swelling of lymph glands, ulcers at the infection site, and pneumonia.
Brown Dog Ticks can also transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, although they rarely feed on humans. Still, in the event that you discover a dog tick bite, the possibility that it was passed by a Brown Dog Tick should be taken into consideration, and you should get tested for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, along with other tick-borne illnesses.
Although dog ticks and dog tick bites can potentially infect humans with different illnesses, they pose the most significant risk to dogs, which is why it’s vital to know how to protect yourself, your family, and your pup.
Dogs and Bartonella
In addition to the diseases listed above, dogs may carry the Bartonella vinsonii subspecies berkhoffii, Bartonella henselae, and other Bartonella species. Bartonella infection is more likely to cause clinical symptoms in dogs than in cats.
Low seroprevalence in worldwide dog populations suggests that dogs are probably not a natural reservoir for B. vinsonii berkhoffii. In addition to dogs and cats, numerous domestic and wild animals, including bovine, canine, human, and rodent species, can serve as reservoir hosts for various Bartonella species.
At the moment, it is not yet known whether dogs are able to transmit Bartonella infections to humans.
Protecting Yourself and Your Dog From Ticks
Dog ticks especially pose a risk for homes with dogs, as ticks can hitch a ride on dogs, bringing them into the house. So be diligent in protecting the whole family from tick-borne diseases, including your pets.
Remember these tips when you’re in areas where ticks are commonly found:
- Wear pants tucked into long socks
- Put long hair up
- Use bug spray that includes DEET or lemon-eucalyptus essential oils
- Thoroughly check yourself and your pets for ticks after possible exposure
- Know how to remove a tick properly
How to Check for Tick Bites On Dogs
When your four-legged friend comes in from the outdoors, it’s important to check them over for passengers – or their bites. Searching for ticks or a tick bite on a dog can be tricky, as looking through long fur on some breeds may make it easier for ticks to hide, and the dog may not want to sit still through an inspection. However, this critical step may help catch tick-borne diseases early, and keep a tick from entering your home via your pet.
To check for ticks or tick bites on dogs, run your fingers slowly over the dog’s body. If you feel an unusual bump or swollen area, part their fur carefully to inspect for a burrowed tick. Check everywhere on the dog – look between their toes, on and inside of their ears, on their legs and tails, and even around their faces and necks.
If you spot a tick that is burrowed in the dog’s skin, grasp the tick as close to the dog’s skin as possible without pinching it. Use a pair of tweezers to carefully remove the tick in a straight, slow motion. Do not jerk or twist the tick.
If you spy a tick clinging to your dog’s fur, but not burrowed into the skin, remove it with a gloved hand and tweezers. From there, dispose of the tick by submerging it in alcohol, placing it in a plastic bag, or flushing it down the toilet.
Watch For Symptoms
It’s also important to know how to watch for symptoms of tick-borne illnesses in yourself, your family, and your pets. Signs your pet may have gotten a dog tick bite include loss of appetite or vomiting, decreased energy, weakness, red or glassy-looking eyes, and wobbling or limping.
If you get bit by a tick, it’s important to save it for testing if possible, as well as seek out testing for yourself through a reliable source like IGeneX. Tick bites can be scary, but diligence and swift action can prevent most long-term complications.
