Borrowed from American Kennel Club
Ticks are a problem for dogs during all seasons of the year. When temperatures rise, and you and your dog are spending more time outside, these bloodsucking pests become a larger threat. Ticks sit themselves on tall grasses and shrubs, waiting for your dog to walk by, so they can attach themselves to him.
Tick prevention should be taken seriously, and not just because these arachnids make many people squeamish — ticks actually carry quite a few diseases. Some of these diseases have no cure, so being diligent in checking for and removing ticks is important.
Veterinarians recommend that the best defense is a good offense – and that you thoroughly check your dog for ticks as soon as you return from outside. Carefully run your hands all over your dog to search for small bumps.
It is not necessary to take your dog to the vet if you find a tick on him – as long as you know how to safely remove the whole tick, including the head, with fine-point tweezers or a specially designed tick removal hook.
1. Head and Ears
Dogs are curious creatures, sticking their heads into everything, so it’s not uncommon for ticks to find their way onto the head and into a dog’s ears. With so many crevices and hiding places, the ears make a perfect home for a hungry tick. When checking your dog, make sure to look on the outside of the ears and also deep into the ear, because the ticks can get attached and go unnoticed for a long time.
2. Toes
Since ticks hide in places where they won’t be found, crawling in-between your dog’s toes and attaching there is a common occurrence. You can find them in-between the toes or even on the bottom of the foot near the pads.
3. Tail
Ticks like dark, moist areas, so the underside of the tail makes a great home. Since most owners aren’t regularly checking the underside of the dog’s tail, especially near the base, a tick can go unnoticed for quite some time. A fine comb will likely catch a tick that’s attached itself under the tail.
4. Groin
Most dog owners aren’t keen on checking their dog’s genital regions. However, this area is another dark, moist region on the body that ticks really like hanging around in. Ticks can become attached and stay hidden by the dog’s coat and tail for a long time.
5. Eyelids
A lot of ticks go unnoticed near the eyelids because they’re mistaken for skin tags or eye discharge.
6. Armpits
Another common place for ticks to attach is high up where the dog’s front legs meet his body – what we would call the armpit region. It’s a nice dark area where it’s difficult for the dog to reach or for you to see.