Content
- How do ticks live?
- Tick Life Cycle
- How do ticks reproduce?
- Where do ticks lay eggs?
- How many eggs does a tick lay?
- How long does a tick live without a host?
- Tick Control Measures
- General recommendations
Ticks are one of the most common ectoparasites that can affect our dogs, especially if they pass through wooded places where these mites can crouch in the environment waiting for the arrival of an animal to feed. They are hematophagous, therefore, they must bite and remain attached to the dog throughout the process. It is in this exchange that this mite can transmit various diseases, so it is very important to know how long does a tick live with and without a host, as we will explain in this PeritoAnimal article, to prevent their appearance and to properly disinfect our home.
How do ticks live?
There are different species of ticks capable of biting dogs and also humans. As we have seen, their importance lies in their ability to transmit diseases as dangerous as babesiosis, Lyme disease or canine ehrlichiosis. When the tick approaches an animal, it insert your head into it to start your feeding and it stays stuck there. This way of feeding implies that, to extract them, we have to pay special attention to doing it completely, so that the head does not remain inside the dog, which could produce an infection.
If the tick functions as a vector for any disease, depending on the disease, you will need to be in contact with the dog for a certain number of hours to become infected. Therefore, it is important, in addition to the prevention through deworming, check the dog whenever you arrive from a walk during the period of greatest risk of ticks, which generally corresponds to the less cold months. Locating ticks before adhering or extracting them in the first moments will prevent the transmission of diseases such as those mentioned. Knowing how long a tick lives and its life cycle will help us to efficiently clean our dog. Likewise, a large infestation can cause anemia and iron deficiency.
Tick Life Cycle
Among the different species, let's take the Ixodes ricinus as an example to delve into how long a tick lives and in what way. The females we observe attached to a dog feed for a few days and even by several weeks. Then they will return to the environment to lay eggs and die. From these eggs hatch six-legged larvae that will look for a first animal to feed for 2 to 3 days, which is usually a rodent. After this ingestion, they return to the environment to become nymphs, already with 8 legs, which feed for 4 to 6 days on animals such as rabbits. Finally, they return to the environment where they are transformed into adult ticks that spend most of their time in the environment. Females feed on 5 to 14 days of dogs, cats or oxen, restarting the cycle. Thus, if you ask how long it takes a tick to get fat or to fill with blood, the answer is one to two weeks, during which time it experiences growth that can even multiply its size by four.
How do ticks reproduce?
In general, adult ticks mate on the same host when they get enough food. After mating, the female lays eggs, which hatch 20 to 60 days after deposition, and the previous cycle begins again.
Where do ticks lay eggs?
In general, ticks prefer areas with vegetation to lay their eggs, although they can also opt for cracks formed in the ground, especially if they are close to our furry friend's resting place, or they do so in the host itself. Thus, if we have a place at home that meets these conditions, such as a garden or an old space, and we do not carry out adequate measures to prevent and disinfect the house, we may suffer an infestation after the eggs hatch. Therefore, it is worth noting that both larvae and adult ticks can find in humans an ideal host to feed on, so not only pets can be harmed by these parasites.
How many eggs does a tick lay?
A tick can put from three thousand to seven thousand eggs, which is a sufficiently alarming number to consider the relevant precautions.
How long does a tick live without a host?
To answer the question of how long a tick lives outside the dog or cat, it is necessary, again, to review its life cycle, as each stage has its own resistance. So, the larvae can live in the environment without receiving any kind of food for about 8 months, While the adult nymphs and ticks can survive without a host for up to one and a half year. In total, the tick's life cycle, considering how long a tick lives without eating at all stages, can take up to 4 years.
Tick Control Measures
As we have seen, most of the tick's life cycle takes place in the environment and it can last for several months. This makes environmental control difficult, however, considering how long a tick lives and establishing a deworming calendar Properly will be able to prevent infestations. In the market we find repellent products to prevent tick bites from reaching our dog and also others with a protective action that eliminates ticks a few hours after biting the dog, preventing them from transmitting diseases.
To define the most suitable deworming program we must consult with our veterinarian to adapt the product to our dog's conditions, as they have a greater risk of infestations that frequent wooded areas or fields, which can increase the frequency of applications. In addition, we must be careful to follow the instructions for the proper administration of the product. For example, if we choose pipettes or sprays, we cannot let the dog get wet 48 hours before or after use, as it may lose effectiveness. However, increasingly, experts recommend opting for double monthly deworming, which is to protect the animal against external and internal parasites through the administration of a single pill, since its effectiveness is much greater. For this reason, consult your trusted veterinarian about this method and deworm your pet to protect it and all members of the family.
General recommendations
In this case, more important than the tick's lifespan on the dog, we must focus on eliminating it as quickly as possible, since it is impossible to completely prevent it from climbing on our pet, as it frequents open environments. Some tips are as follows:
- Avoid areas of concentration of ticks and, if possible, act preventively. For example, we can cover the cracks where they can hide, if they live in places like sheds.
- keep deworming keep it up to date and apply it correctly, especially during the months of higher temperatures, as well as throughout the year, if you live in mild climates.
- Check the dog's entire body when returning from walks.
- For extract the ticks, there are special tools on the market that produce a traction that can also pull the head. We must never pull them out with our hands.
- Disinfect and properly fumigate the house.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.