In the middle of summer it is common to come back from a walk in the countryside, the hills around Madrid or even a city park and find a grey lump stuck to your dog's skin. Ticks on dogs (and, less often, on cats) are much more than a nuisance: in Spain they transmit several diseases that can be serious. Here we explain where pets pick them up, how to remove them properly, which diseases they carry, which signs should worry you and how to prevent them.
Where and when pets pick up ticks
Ticks do not jump or fly. They wait on vegetation for an animal to brush past and then climb on. The risk is highest in:
- Long grass, scrubland and woodland: hills, open pasture, riverbanks and country tracks.
- Places with other animals: livestock, deer, wild boar, rabbits or stray dogs.
- Urban parks and vacant lots with overgrown vegetation, even inside the city.
- Kennels, yards and homes: the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) can complete its life cycle indoors and cause infestations inside the house.
Tick activity peaks in spring and summer, but in areas with a mild climate they can turn up almost all year round. After every outing to the countryside, run your hands over your dog, paying special attention to the ears, neck, armpits, groin, between the toes and around the eyes.
How to remove a tick the right way
The sooner a tick is removed, the lower the risk of disease, because most of the microorganisms it carries need the tick to feed for a while before they are passed on. To remove one:
- Wear gloves if you can, and part the fur well.
- Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal hook (available from pharmacies and pet shops).
- Grip the tick as close to the skin as possible, by the head, without squeezing its body.
- Pull gently, firmly and steadily outwards (with a hook, twist gently) until it lets go. Avoid sudden jerks.
- Disinfect the area with an antiseptic and wash your hands.
- Do not crush it between your fingers: drop it into a jar of alcohol or wrap it in sticky tape and throw it away. If your vet asks, you can keep it for identification.
If a small part of the mouthparts stays in the skin, it is usually not serious: the body gets rid of it, although a small lump may form for a few days. See your vet if the area becomes swollen, oozes or is painful. You will find more practical detail in our question on how to remove a tick correctly in dogs and cats.
Myths worth forgetting
- Smothering it with oil, petroleum jelly or alcohol: it takes a long time to work and can make the tick regurgitate saliva and gut contents into the wound, which is exactly what we want to avoid.
- Burning it with a lighter or cigarette: it has the same drawback, and you may burn your dog.
- Yanking it off or twisting it out with your fingers: it is easy to break the tick and squeeze its contents into the skin.
Tick-borne diseases in Spain
Ticks act as vectors for bacteria and blood parasites. The most relevant ones for dogs in Spain are:
- Canine ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis), spread by the brown dog tick. It may start with an acute phase of fever and lethargy, stay silent for months and then progress to a severe chronic form with low platelets, bleeding and bone marrow involvement.
- Babesiosis (Babesia spp.), a parasite that destroys red blood cells, causing anaemia, fever and sometimes dark urine. It can be very serious and needs prompt treatment.
- Anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Anaplasma platys): fever, low energy, joint pain or low platelets, often mild or intermittent.
- Rickettsiosis (Rickettsia conorii): in dogs it usually goes unnoticed or causes a mild fever.
- Others, such as hepatozoonosis (which dogs catch by swallowing an infected tick) or, less commonly in Spain, Lyme disease.
It is quite common for a dog to have more than one infection at the same time, sometimes alongside leishmaniasis, which shares several symptoms. To learn more about it, read our guide to canine leishmaniasis.
What about people?
Dogs do not pass these diseases directly to people, but we share the same ticks. Some species also bite humans and can transmit, for example, Mediterranean spotted fever (caused by Rickettsia conorii). In recent years Spain has also recorded sporadic human cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, linked to Hyalomma ticks in rural settings. These cases are rare, but they are a good reason to handle ticks carefully. So wear gloves, never crush ticks with your fingers and, if you are bitten by a tick and develop fever, feel unwell or notice a skin spot in the following weeks, see your doctor and mention the bite.
Warning signs after a tick bite
Symptoms may appear days or weeks after the bite, and with ehrlichiosis even months later. Book a vet visit if you notice:
- Fever, lethargy or unusual tiredness.
- Loss of appetite or weight loss.
- Pale or yellowish gums.
- Dark urine, reddish or "coffee-coloured".
- Nosebleeds, tiny red spots or bruises on the skin or gums.
- Lameness that shifts from leg to leg, stiffness or pain when moving.
- Swollen lymph nodes, vomiting or eye problems.
Very pale gums, dark urine, marked weakness or bleeding call for an urgent visit. Tell your vet if your dog has had ticks or has travelled: rapid tests and blood work help confirm the diagnosis.
What about cats?
Cats get ticks less often, partly because grooming removes many of them, but cats that go outdoors, into the countryside or through vegetation can bring them home, usually on the head, neck and ears. Cats can also catch tick-borne infections, although these are diagnosed less often. Remove ticks using the same technique and watch for signs such as lethargy, fever or poor appetite.
Prevention: spot-ons, collars and tablets
The best way to avoid these diseases is to stop ticks from feeding in the first place. There are several effective options:
- Spot-on treatments: applied to the skin; some also have a repellent effect.
- Antiparasitic collars: protect for several months; some also repel the sand flies that transmit leishmaniasis.
- Tablets: kill the tick shortly after it starts feeding, and are convenient for dogs that swim or are bathed often.
Each option has its strengths and limits, and in high-risk areas they are sometimes combined. The right choice depends on your dog's lifestyle, age and health, whether it lives with cats or children, and where you live or travel. Talk to your vet to choose the right product and schedule, and always stick to the recommended intervals.
Warning: never use dog products on cats
Many spot-ons and some collars for dogs contain permethrin or other pyrethroids, which are highly toxic to cats: they can cause tremors, seizures and even death. Never put a dog product on a cat and, if they live together, keep the cat from lying against or licking the dog until the product has dried. If your cat roams outdoors, our question on which antiparasitic to use in an outdoor cat explains which options are safe.
And after walks in high-risk areas, keep up the habit of checking your dog, and keep the grass in yards and gardens short.
This article is for information only and does not replace an assessment by your veterinarian. If your pet shows symptoms after a tick bite, see your vet as soon as possible.
