Skip to main content
Shape Created with Sketch.

Where to Buy

Search form
Change Country
Frontline Logo
Created with Sketch.
  • Flea and Tick Range
  • Worm Control
  • Help & Advice
  • Why Frontline
  • Contact Us
SELECT YOUR LOCATION
Africa & Middle East
Africa & Middle East
Asia & Pacific
Asia & Pacific
Europe
Europe
South America
South America
North America
North America
Israel
South Africa
Türkiye
Australia
China (中国)
India
Japan (日本)
New Zealand
Philippines
Taiwan ( 台灣)
Frontline Thailand Thailand
Austria
Belgique
België
Cyprus
Danmark
Deutschland
España
France
Hrvatska
Italia
Latviski
Magyar
Nederland
Polska
Portugal
Schweiz
Slovenija
Slovensko
Srbija
Suisse
Suomi
Sverige
United Kingdom
Česká republika
България
Россия
Румыния
Argentina
Brasil
Chile
Mexico
USA

More articles

Tick on a dog
Tick on a dog
Tick on a blade of grass
Tick on a blade of grass
Ticks

How and where do dogs get ticks?

We want to protect the dogs in our lives from anything that can cause them harm, including parasites like ticks. Understanding where ticks come from, how they end up on our dogs and what we can do about it helps us keep our four-legged friends feeling happy and healthy – just the way we want them.

How it happens

Ticks find their host (the person or animal that will provide their next blood meal) by waving their forelimbs in the air while positioned right at the tip of grasses and plants. This is called ‘questing’. When a dog (or other animal) brushes past, the tick grabs hold of their hair and moves through it, before biting the skin to attach themselves firmly. Prime places to find ticks, particularly on dogs, include between the toes, under elbows and around the ears.

Where do dogs tend to get ticks?

The pesky parasites are hard to avoid as they’re found in most places rich in vegetation, including:
  • parks
  • gardens
  • woods
  • meadows
  • fields, with or without cattle
  • sand dunes
  • heathland.

Tick hotspots

Many popular UK holiday destinations have high numbers of the blood-thirsty beasts, including Exmoor, the New Forest, the South Downs, the Lake District and the Scottish Highlands. 

What types of tick are there?

Several species of tick call the UK home. Ixodes ricinus (sometimes called the sheep tick) is the most common UK tick and can carry Lyme disease.

Dermacentor reticulatus is another type. This species is currently found in Essex, Wales, the South East and South West, and can transmit a dangerous parasite called Babesia that can cause serious illness in dogs – and can even be fatal. 

Many ticks carry some kind of infectious disease that can harm our dogs. Plus, ticks can cause irritation or abscesses where they attach to the skin.

What do ticks look like?

Ticks are arachnids and have eight legs. They can be as tiny as a sesame seed before feeding, making them hard to spot. Once they feed, they can grow up to 200 times their original size, making them as big as a coffee bean. 

What to do if you find a tick

If we spot one of these parasites on our dogs, it’s important to remove it as soon as possible. The best way to do this is using a tick remover tool to gently twist the tick out. Always wear gloves when you do this – you don’t want to be the new host! Don’t apply alcohol, oil, heat, petroleum jelly or squeeze a tick, as this increases the risk of them passing on any infections they’re carrying to your poor pet.

How to help keep our dogs safe

It’s not necessary to avoid places where our dogs can pick up ticks. These are usually places they’ll enjoy visiting and it’s good for them to be active and out in the fresh air. Instead, we need to check our dogs regularly for ticks, especially after they’ve been in areas with lots of vegetation. As ticks can be tricky to spot and pose a danger, it’s advisable to regularly use a tick treatment to kill any pesky pests that might be lurking on our dogs. FRONTLINE TRI-ACT®  for dogs kills new ticks within 6 hours and also repels them, which helps to prevent them from biting your dog in the first place.

Knowing how and where our dogs pick up ticks helps us keep our precious pets protected, so we can enjoy lovely long walks with our dogs without too many worries. 
 

Up Next

See All Articles
Ticks

How Do Cats Catch Ticks?

Ticks

Lyme disease in dogs – the symptoms and treatment

Ticks

Lyme disease in cats - the symptoms and treatment

Ticks

Babesiosis in dogs - what to know, what to do

Ticks

How to Protect Your Cat Against Ticks

Ticks

Is your pet just tired – or could they have Lyme disease?

Ticks

Babesiosis – It’s here, know the risks!

Ticks

Don't let lyme disease spoil your summer

Ticks

Stand up to ticks this summer

Infectious tick in garden
Ticks

How can you help protect your pet against ticks?

Dog being treated with tick treatment
Ticks

Tick Spotting

Flock of sheep in field
Ticks

How can a cowpat calamity increase your pet’s risk of ticks?

Adult dog with ticks in it's ear
Ticks

Found a tick in your house?

Dog in festive christmas decorated home
Ticks

Deck the halls: but watch out for ticks!

Cat having fun in the sun
Ticks

Springtime adventures, watch out for ticks!

Two boys patting their tired dog
Ticks

Is your pet just tired – or could they have Lyme disease?

Ticks and babesiosis in dogs
Ticks

Babesiosis – a potentially fatal disease of dogs transmitted by ticks

Cat sitting in overgrown spring garden
Ticks

Watch out for unwanted guests in your garden!

Brown tick with small head and 8 legs on leaf
Ticks

Interview with a tick!

Help and advice

Whether you're an animal guru or a first-time pet owner, our pet-care tips will help you along the way.
FIND OUT MORE

Join the Community

If you have questions, our experts have answers. If you are puzzled over how to control flea and tick problems, you might find the solution here.
Join
  • FAQ
  • FRONTLINE COMMUNITY
  • OUR BLOG
  • CONTACT US

For our recommended retailers, click below

Where to Buy
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Legal Terms
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Cookie Policy
  • Data Sheets

© Boehringer Ingelheim 2022

Boehringer Ingelheim Logo