5 Crucial Spots to Check for Ticks on Your Dog

Ticks are bothersome parasites that attach to dogs to feed on their blood. Besides being unpleasant to spot, they pose serious health risks including transmission of diseases such as Lyme disease and causing skin infections or irritation at the bite site. Quickly finding and removing ticks is important to reduce these risks, since allowing ticks to fall off naturally increases chances of disease spread and may lead to ticks relocating inside your home.

In the United States, tick activity generally spans from early spring through fall, peaking in late spring and early summer. This period can run from March or April through September to November, depending on the local climate. In warmer states like Texas, Florida, California, and Georgia, ticks may remain active year-round due to mild winters. Because tick prevalence varies regionally, it’s critical to routinely examine your dog after outdoor activities, especially following walks in wooded, grassy, or brushy areas where ticks thrive.

Spotting ticks can be challenging, especially on dogs with thick or long coats. However, ticks tend to attach where the blood supply is close to the skin and fur is thinner. Directing your attention to these five common areas will help you locate ticks quickly and remove them safely.

Underside and Between the Hind Legs

The belly’s underside, particularly the inner thighs of the hind legs, is a favored spot for ticks. These regions often brush against tall grass and have delicate skin with abundant blood supply. Carefully inspect your dog’s undercarriage, between the hind legs, and around the base and underside of the tail. Using a flashlight in dim light or on dogs with dense fur can help reveal hidden ticks.

Inside the Armpits

The armpits usually have sparser fur and strong blood flow, making them attractive to ticks. These folds can be easier to inspect than the hind legs. Still, make sure to examine the crevices deeply to find any ticks hiding there. Regularly checking the armpits after outdoor excursions is a good practice to catch ticks early.

Between the Pads of the Paws

While the pads themselves are tough, ticks can latch onto the skin between your dog’s toes and paw pads where blood circulates but fur is absent. Since dogs walk on thick pads, ticks avoid those areas but exploit the gaps between toes. Checking paw toes carefully after each walk helps detect any ticks before they fully embed.

Around the Eyes

Ticks may target the sensitive skin around and just below the eyes. Small ticks that blend in with the skin or residue around the eye can be easily missed. Gently feeling around the eye area with your finger and visually inspecting for any new bumps or abnormalities helps with early tick detection.

Base of the Ears

The base of the ears has rich blood supply and thinner fur, creating an inviting site for ticks. Inspect both the outer edges and the inner folds of the ears, although deep inside the ears ticks are less frequent due to denser fur and natural protection. Regular ear inspections aid in preventing tick bites in this sensitive region.

How to Safely Remove Ticks and Prevent Infestations

When you find a tick, the safest removal technique is to use a specialized tick removal tool or fine-tipped tweezers designed to extract ticks whole. Grab the tick as close to the dog’s skin as possible and pull upwards steadily without twisting or squeezing. This minimizes the chance of leaving tick mouthparts behind, which can cause infection.

If you're unsure about removing a tick safely, contact your veterinarian for advice or assistance. Avoid home remedies such as smothering the tick with petroleum jelly or using heat—they may cause the tick to expel infectious material into your pet’s bloodstream.

After removing the tick, clean the bite site thoroughly with an antiseptic solution. Observe your dog for any health changes including lethargy, fever, lameness, or swollen joints, which could indicate tick-borne illnesses.

Preventative approaches include administering veterinarian-recommended tick control products year-round, especially for dogs living in or visiting high-risk areas. Limiting exposure to tall grass, thick brush, and wooded locations where ticks are common also helps. Making a habit of grooming your dog and checking these key tick-prone areas after each outing protects your pet’s health and comfort.

By inspecting your dog’s underbelly, armpits, paws, the eye area, and ear base thoroughly after outdoor time, particularly during tick season from spring through fall, you safeguard them from ticks and associated diseases.