Introduction to Types of Ticks

Several Tick Types in America can be the carriers of dangerous diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and ehrlichiosis. The knowledge of the most common Tick Types and the signs of tick growth in pets can be a certain protection for pets from these tick bites.

5 Common Tick Types in the United States

5 Tick Types that are currently in the United States, and that are most likely to come into contact with your dog are-

1. American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis)

• The American dog tick has always been one of the most common Tick Types in the US. Adult specimens are about to be found just at first glance due to the combination of their brown bodies with white or silver markings on their backs. When engorged, female ticks change color to gray.
• American dog ticks are well known for causing diseases like tularemia to dogs and humans. Dogs seem to be their preferred victims but they can easily switch to other species. For example, people in addition to cattle and wildlife.
• These ticks are mainly seen in the spring and early summer. After a feast, the female tick may spawn thousands of eggs, hence an infestation is hard to be rectified. Ticks virtually never infest buildings but are quite a threat where there is a little canopy of trees outdoors.

2. Blacklegged Tick

• Western regions know it by the name blacklegged tick, and in the east, it goes by the name deer tick. The black-legged tick is tinier than the dog tick yet it is very dangerous. The adult black-legged tick is about 0.9×0.5mm in size and is almost two times smaller than the adult dog tick. They are usually found in grassy and woodland areas.
• Due to global warming, the ticks are increasing. They are mostly present in the Midwest and Northeast and along the Pacific Coast. They are predominant in areas where the rodent reservoirs are and later transmits to humans.
• These ticks are well known for being the transmitters of Lyme disease, as well as babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis. Nymphs of these species are dangerous since they can hardly be detected. These tick species are active from spring to the end of autumn, and one bite can transmit Lyme disease if the tick is not removed in time.

3. Lone Star Tick

• This tick has a single white dot on the back of the adult female. Lone Star ticks are not only aggressive biters but are also very likely to bite dogs, humans, and wildlife. They cause red and itchy rashes and transmit ehrlichiosis, tularemia, as well as another disease-STARI.
• Important- Some people, that have been bitten by the Lone Star ticks, become allergic to meat, and this disease is called alpha-gal syndrome. These ticks are most active during early spring and late fall.

4. Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus)

• Brown dog ticks are bicolored and have a conical, elongated form. The larvae, nymphs, and adults of this species are the cause of a theoretical illness called erliquiosis, amongst the symptoms of which are: headache, sore muscles, fever, etc. Toddlers, seniors, and the one with weaker immunity are the most likely to catch the infection.
• Brown dog ticks are only found indoors, so their hosts are strictly limited to dogs, and they survive by remaining in one place an entire life-cycle. The ticks can move from a pet to its owner and cause severe symptoms. The transmission of the pathogens to the bloodstream can lead to the growth of the disease.

5. Rocky Mountain Wood Tick (Dermacentor andersoni)

• Rocky Mountain wood tick can be found in the states near Rocky Mountains and in the parts of the Pacific Northwest. These are similar to the American dog tick, which has a red-brown body with silver spots.
• Mostly these ticks are active during the spring and the beginning of the summer. Their preferred habitats are grassy, bush, or forest areas in highlands. The infection by Rocky Mountain Wood Tick from one host to another can be Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado tick fever, and tularemia.
• Moreover, they have the potential to cause tick paralysis in canines and humans-a rare but very serious condition. If you go hiking or camping in the Rockies, don’t forget to check your dog (and yourself) in time after every outdoor adventure!

Conclusion

If you’re a pet owner, one of the responsibly common things to do is get yourself familiar with the Tick Types in America for dog protective measures and for the safety of your family.

The thorough understanding of a species individual behavior, and risky diseases is quite crucial when it comes to seeking the best preventative measures while some other strategies like regular tick checks, unstoppable prevention, and on-time extraction will give the results. The constant protection of your pet (and yourself) against ticks is important.