You’ve come back from a walk through long grass, your dog’s had the time of their life bounding through meadows, and now they’re scratching behind their ear with unusual intensity. You part the fur and there it is — a small, dark blob attached to the skin. If you’ve never dealt with a tick before, your first instinct is to yank it off. Don’t. There’s a right way and a very wrong way to do this, and the difference matters for your dog’s health.
In This Article
- Why Tick Checks Matter in the UK
- When to Check Your Dog for Ticks
- What Ticks Look Like on Dogs
- Where Ticks Hide on Your Dog
- How to Do a Full Tick Check
- How to Remove a Tick Safely
- What Not to Do When Removing Ticks
- Tick-Borne Diseases in the UK
- Preventing Ticks in the First Place
- When to See the Vet
- Tick Season in the UK: A Monthly Breakdown
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Tick Checks Matter in the UK
Ticks aren’t just a nuisance — they’re a genuine health risk. In the UK, ticks carry several diseases including Lyme disease, which can cause serious long-term problems for both dogs and humans if left untreated.
The UK Tick Problem Is Getting Worse
Tick populations have been expanding across Britain over the past decade. Milder winters mean more ticks survive year-round, and they’re no longer confined to obvious countryside hotspots. Urban parks, suburban gardens, and even short grass in some areas now harbour ticks. The Big Tick Project found that a third of dogs checked by vets in the UK had ticks attached.
It Only Takes One Bite
A single infected tick can transmit Lyme disease in as little as 24-48 hours after attachment. That’s why regular checking matters — the faster you find and remove a tick, the lower the risk of disease transmission. Making tick checks a habit after every walk is one of the simplest things you can do to protect your dog.
When to Check Your Dog for Ticks
After Every Walk in Risk Areas
Any walk through long grass, woodland, moorland, or heathland warrants a tick check. I check my dog after every off-lead walk between March and October — it takes about three minutes and it’s become as automatic as wiping muddy paws.
Peak Season: March to October
Ticks are most active from early spring through autumn, with peak activity in April-May and September-October. But they don’t completely disappear in winter — on mild days (above about 7°C), ticks can still be active. If your dog picks up a tick in January, it’s unusual but not impossible.
Even After Short Garden Sessions
If you live near woodland or fields, ticks can be in your garden. Hedgehogs, foxes, and deer carry ticks into residential areas, dropping them in grass and borders. We found two ticks on our dog after she’d only been in the garden for twenty minutes — the foxes visiting overnight had brought guests.
What Ticks Look Like on Dogs
Before Feeding
An unfed tick is tiny — about the size of a sesame seed — and flat. They’re usually dark brown or black and have eight legs (they’re arachnids, not insects). At this stage, they’re easy to miss in dark or thick fur.
After Feeding
Once a tick has been feeding for a day or more, it engorges with blood and swells to the size of a small pea. Engorged ticks are grey-blue or pale green and look a bit like a smooth, shiny wart. This is when most owners first notice them.
Common Confusions
People often mistake skin tags, nipples, and small warts for ticks. The key differences:
- Ticks are attached at a single point and have visible legs (use a magnifying glass if needed)
- Skin tags are the same colour as the surrounding skin and are soft to squeeze gently
- Nipples are symmetrical — dogs have 8-10, arranged in two rows along the belly
If you’re not sure, don’t pull it. Take a photo and send it to your vet or check against the UKHSA Tick Surveillance Scheme for expert identification.
Where Ticks Hide on Your Dog
Ticks prefer warm, thin-skinned areas where they can attach without being disturbed. These are the spots to check every time:
Head and Ears
- Inside and behind the ears — the number one tick hiding spot. The skin is thin and warm, and dogs can’t easily scratch them off
- Around the eyes — check along the brow ridge and the corners of the eyes
- Under the chin — especially on dogs with loose jowls like spaniels and retrievers
Body Hot Spots
- Armpits — warm, dark, and often overlooked. Run your fingers through the fur in both front armpits
- Groin and inner thighs — another warm, thin-skinned area. Roll your dog onto their back and check carefully
- Between the toes — surprisingly common. Spread each toe and check the webbing between them
- Under the collar — remove the collar and feel the entire neck area
- Base of the tail — where the tail meets the body, especially on the underside
Breed-Specific Considerations
Long-haired breeds (Spaniels, Setters, Collies) are harder to check because ticks can hide deep in the coat. Short-haired breeds (Labs, Staffies, Whippets) are easier — you can often see and feel ticks during a quick stroke.
For long-haired dogs, I’d recommend using a fine-toothed comb as part of your check. Run it through the coat methodically, section by section, and feel the skin with your fingertips. It takes longer but catches the ones hidden under thick undercoat. If you’re looking for grooming tools that help with tick detection, our guide to choosing a dog harness vs collar covers collar types that make neck checks easier.
How to Do a Full Tick Check
A thorough tick check should take 3-5 minutes. Here’s how to do it properly:
Step-by-Step Process
- Find good lighting. Natural daylight or a bright room light. Ticks are hard to see in dim conditions, especially on dark-furred dogs
- Start at the head. Run your fingertips over the entire face, checking ears inside and out, around the eyes, under the chin, and along the muzzle
- Work down the neck. Remove the collar and feel the entire neck area — front, sides, and back. Pay extra attention to where the collar sits
- Check the chest and front legs. Feel through the chest fur, into both armpits, and down each front leg. Check between the toes on each paw
- Run your hands along the back and sides. Use flat palms to feel for any small bumps, then investigate anything unusual with your fingertips
- Check the belly and groin. Roll your dog over or lift them slightly. Feel the entire belly, inner thighs, and groin area
- Back legs and tail. Feel down each back leg, between the toes, and around the base of the tail on all sides
What You’re Feeling For
You’re looking for small, round bumps that feel different from the skin underneath. An attached tick feels like a firm, slightly raised lump — about the size of a pinhead (unfed) or a baked bean (engorged). When you find a bump, part the fur and look at it closely. If it has legs, it’s a tick.
How to Remove a Tick Safely
What You Need
- A tick removal tool — the O’Tom Tick Twister (about £3-5 from Amazon UK or your vet) is the gold standard. It comes in two sizes for different tick sizes
- Antiseptic wipes or spray — Hibiscrub diluted in water or a pet-safe antiseptic
- A sealed container — a piece of sticky tape folded over or a small jar with a lid, for disposing of the tick
The Correct Removal Method
- Slide the tick twister under the tick. Approach from the side, getting the fork of the tool as close to the skin as possible. The tick’s body should sit in the V-shaped notch
- Twist gently — do not pull. Rotate the tool 2-3 full turns in either direction. The twisting motion disengages the tick’s mouthparts from the skin without squeezing the body
- Lift away. The tick should release cleanly after a few twists. If it doesn’t, try another turn or two. Don’t yank
- Check the tick is whole. Look at the removed tick — you should see the mouthparts (a tiny dark point) at the front. If the head is missing, see the vet
- Clean the bite site. Wipe with antiseptic and monitor the area for the next few weeks. A small red mark is normal; a spreading red rash or ring shape is not
- Dispose of the tick. Seal it in tape, crush it in tissue, or flush it. Don’t crush it between your fingers — tick-borne pathogens can enter through broken skin
Why the Tick Twister Works
The twisting action releases the tick’s barbed mouthparts without compressing the tick’s body. This is important because squeezing the body can push infected saliva back into the bite wound, increasing the risk of disease transmission. It’s the method recommended by vets across the UK.
What Not to Do When Removing Ticks
Some old-fashioned removal methods are still circulated online. All of them are wrong and potentially dangerous:
Methods to Avoid
- Don’t burn it with a match or lighter. This causes the tick to regurgitate saliva into the wound, increasing infection risk. It also burns your dog
- Don’t smother it in petroleum jelly or nail varnish. The theory is that blocking the tick’s breathing makes it release. In practice, the tick takes hours to suffocate and spends that time pumping more saliva into the bite
- Don’t pull it straight out with tweezers. Standard tweezers compress the tick’s body (same saliva-pumping risk) and often leave the mouthparts embedded in the skin
- Don’t twist it with your fingers. Same compression problem, plus your skin isn’t a barrier to tick-borne pathogens if you have any cuts or cracks on your hands
If the Head Gets Left Behind
It happens. If the tick’s mouthparts remain in the skin after removal, don’t dig around trying to extract them. The body will usually push them out naturally over a few days, like a splinter. Clean the area with antiseptic and monitor it. If the skin becomes red, swollen, or your dog seems bothered by it, see your vet.
Tick-Borne Diseases in the UK
Lyme Disease (Borreliosis)
The most common tick-borne disease in Britain. It’s caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted primarily by the deer tick (Ixodes ricinus). Symptoms in dogs can include:
- Lameness — often shifting between legs, appearing and disappearing
- Swollen joints — particularly the leg joints
- Fever and lethargy — your normally bouncy dog suddenly wants to sleep all day
- Loss of appetite — refusing food or eating reluctantly
- Kidney problems — in severe cases, which can be life-threatening
Lyme disease is treatable with antibiotics if caught early. The key word is “early” — chronic Lyme disease is much harder to manage. For broader health monitoring tips, have a look at our guide to spotting good quality dog food, because good nutrition supports your dog’s immune response.
Babesiosis
Previously considered rare in the UK, babesiosis was confirmed in Essex dogs in 2016 and has since been found in other parts of southern England. It attacks red blood cells and causes anaemia, weakness, and dark-coloured urine. It’s more dangerous than Lyme disease and requires urgent veterinary treatment.
Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis
Less common in the UK but present. Both cause fever, lethargy, and blood abnormalities. Your vet can test for these alongside Lyme disease.
Preventing Ticks in the First Place
Prescription Tick Treatments
The most effective prevention is a vet-prescribed tick treatment. These come in several forms:
- Spot-on treatments (Frontline, Advantix, Bravecto spot-on) — applied to the back of the neck monthly. Bravecto lasts 12 weeks, which is convenient
- Oral tablets (Bravecto, Simparica, NexGard) — chewable tablets given monthly (or every 12 weeks for Bravecto). Many owners prefer these because there’s no greasy residue and you can bath your dog without affecting coverage
- Tick collars (Seresto) — worn continuously, effective for up to 8 months. Good for dogs that swim frequently, as the active ingredient is embedded in the collar material
Prescription treatments don’t prevent ticks from attaching — they kill ticks within 24-48 hours of attachment, before disease transmission occurs. You’ll still find ticks on treated dogs; they’ll just be dead or dying.
Environmental Awareness
- Stick to paths in high-risk areas — ticks sit on the tips of long grass and bracken, waiting to latch onto passing hosts
- Avoid long grass during peak season — if your dog runs through a meadow in May, expect ticks
- Check after every walk — even with preventive treatment, checking catches the ones that slip through
- Keep your garden tidy — short grass, trimmed borders, and removing leaf litter reduces tick habitat. If deer or foxes visit your garden regularly, be extra vigilant
Natural Alternatives
Some owners prefer natural tick repellents. Products containing neem oil, citronella, or geraniol can have some repellent effect, but the evidence for their effectiveness is weak compared to prescription treatments. If you choose a natural approach, you need to be even more diligent about checking — they reduce tick numbers but don’t eliminate them. Our guide to choosing healthy dog treats covers other areas where natural choices work well, but for tick prevention, prescription treatments remain the vet-recommended gold standard.
When to See the Vet
Urgent Signs
See your vet promptly if you notice any of the following after a tick bite:
- A spreading red rash around the bite site, especially a ring or bullseye shape
- Lameness or stiffness appearing days to weeks after a tick bite
- Fever — a rectal temperature above 39.2°C (normal is 38.3-39.2°C)
- Lethargy lasting more than a day — especially if your dog was fine before
- Swollen lymph nodes — you can feel these as lumps under the jaw, in front of the shoulders, and behind the knees
- Dark or bloody urine — could indicate babesiosis
Routine Vet Visits
Even without symptoms, mention any tick bites at your next routine check-up. Your vet can run a blood test for tick-borne diseases if they think it’s warranted. Early detection makes treatment far more effective.
Tick Testing
If you’ve removed a tick that was attached for more than 24 hours, some UK services will test the removed tick for pathogens. The Big Tick Project and some private labs offer this service. It’s not essential — most vets recommend monitoring for symptoms instead — but it can provide peace of mind.
Tick Season in the UK: A Monthly Breakdown
Understanding when ticks are most active helps you plan your checking routine:
- January-February — low risk, but active on mild days above 7°C. Don’t skip checks entirely
- March — tick season begins. Start regular post-walk checks and ensure preventive treatment is up to date
- April-May — peak activity. The combination of warming temperatures and nesting wildlife creates ideal conditions. Check after every single walk
- June-August — consistently high risk, though very hot, dry spells can temporarily reduce activity
- September-October — second peak. Autumn walks through fallen leaves and damp bracken are prime tick territory
- November-December — activity drops but doesn’t stop. Mild autumns extend the season later each year
The overall message: check all year round, but be especially thorough from March to October. Three minutes after each walk is a small price for peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I catch Lyme disease from my dog? Not directly — Lyme disease isn’t transmitted dog-to-human. However, the same ticks that bite your dog can also bite you. If your dog picks up ticks, you’re walking in tick-infested areas too. Check yourself as well, especially legs, waistband, armpits, and hairline.
How quickly do I need to remove a tick? Lyme disease transmission typically takes 24-48 hours after attachment, so finding and removing ticks within 24 hours greatly reduces the risk. This is why daily checking during tick season is so important — catching them early makes all the difference.
Do tick removal tools actually work better than tweezers? Yes. Tick twisters and tick hooks are designed to avoid compressing the tick’s body, which reduces the risk of pushing infected saliva into the wound. Standard tweezers squeeze the tick and often leave the mouthparts behind. A tick twister costs about £4 and lasts forever — it’s worth every penny.
My dog had a tick but seems fine — should I still worry? Monitor for 2-4 weeks after any tick bite. Lyme disease symptoms can take days to weeks to appear. If your dog develops lameness, fever, lethargy, or swollen joints during that period, tell your vet about the tick bite. Most tick bites cause no problems, but vigilance during the monitoring window is sensible.
Are tick collars safe for other pets in the house? Seresto collars contain imidacloprid and flumethrin, which can be toxic to cats if they groom a dog wearing one. If you have cats that cuddle with your dog, discuss safer alternatives with your vet. Oral treatments like Bravecto are a good option for multi-pet households.