Color: Brown with whitish to gray markings
Legs: 8
Shape: Oval, flattened
Size: 3/16” (5 mm) unengorged, 5/8” (15 mm) engorged
Antennae: No
Region: Found throughout the U.S., except the Rocky Mountains area
The American dog tick gets its name because adult ticks prefer domestic dogs as hosts, and this species is found only in North America.
It is thought that American dog ticks are attracted to animal scent, so they are common along roads and trails. Adult ticks prefer domestic dogs as hosts and can therefore be brought into the home and potentially transferred to humans.
The American dog tick is the primary vector of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the United States. It is also known to transmit tularemia, a rare bacterial infection, and they can cause tick paralysis.
These ticks prefer grassy areas with low vegetation where larger mammals pass by. American dog ticks do not survive well indoors.
When in an area with common ticks, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, preferably light-colored, so they are easier to detect. Tuck pants into socks, and use a tick repellent when outside. To get rid of ticks and reduce risks indoors, inspect clothing and skin before entering. Wash clothes immediately.
If a tick is found on the body, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp it as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick as this can cause the mouthparts to break off and remain in the skin. Once the tick is removed, thoroughly clean the bite site with soap and water. Then, flush the tick down the toilet or wrap it in a tissue before disposing in a closed receptacle.
American dog ticks primarily carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), a serious bacterial disease They can also provoke canine paralysis and transmit tularemia (sudden high fever, headaches, muscle ache, and joint pain).
American dog ticks are not primary carriers of Lyme disease. This often debilitating disease is transmitted by blacklegged ticks (also called deer ticks).
No, not all American dog ticks carry disease. Only ticks that have been infected by feeding on a diseased host can transmit illnesses. However, since it's impossible to tell by sight whether a tick is infected, it's important to take all tick bites seriously.