Deer Tick (Ixodes scapularis): Also known as the blacklegged tick, the deer tick is most commonly found in deciduous forest areas. These ticks are primarily distributed by whitetail deer and they can carry several different diseases in both the adult and nymph stages including Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, and Babesiosis.

As larvae, these ticks are under 1 mm in length, so they’re about the size of a poppy seed, and they’ll have six legs. As nymphs, they’ll be anywhere from 1 to 2 mm in length, so about the size of a pinhead, and they’ll have eight legs. As adults, they’ll feature a flat body that fills up with blood after it feeds, and they’ll have eight legs. Generally, they’re brownish colored, but after they feed, they might be described as brown-red or rust colored. Male adults are brown, and unfed females are brown and red (females also appear to have a darker color after they feed). Also, adult males are small, measuring 3 to 5 mm, while females are 10 mm.

American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis): These ticks are most commonly found in grassy areas with little to no tree cover. American dog ticks feed on hosts of all sizes and they can carry Tularemia and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. These ticks can survive up to 2 years with no host.

It is common for an adult American dog tick to bite a human, so take precautions to protect not only your pets but yourself as well. Female American dog ticks feature a big off-white marking set on a dark brown body, so that is one way that you can recognize this type of tick. The adult males feature a brown body and markings that are whitish to gray in color. In terms of their size, they can be 15 mm when engorged and 5 mm when not engorged. Also, while larvae will have six legs, nymphs and adults will have eight legs.

Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americamm): This type of tick is primarily found in areas of dense undergrowth and woodlands, particularly in animal resting areas. Lone star ticks can carry disease in both the adult and nymphal stages – diseases they can carry include Rocky Mountain spotted fever, “Stari” borreliosis, and Monocytic Ehrlichiosis.

In terms of their appearance, these ticks are quite easy to recognize. Adult females will have a white dot located on the center of their back, while males will feature white streaks or lines on the edges of the top part of the body. Just be aware that the markings on the male ticks won’t be as easy to see as those that are found on the females.

Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus): These ticks are found all over the world and in all parts of the United States, though they are most heavily concentrated in the south. Brown dog ticks can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever in all life stages but they can only transmit canine babesiosis and canine ehrlichiosis in the adult and nymphal stages.

Adults that haven’t fed will measure around 1/8” in length. After they’ve fed, males will be smaller than females, with females being around ½” in length. Also, adults will be reddish-brown in color, without any recognizable markings. And, after feeding, these ticks could take on a blue-gray color.

Wood Tick (Dermacentor andersoni): Also known as the Rocky Mountain wood tick, these ticks are primarily found in lightly wooded areas, grasslands, and shrub land. Wood ticks can transmit Colorado tick fever virus (CTFV) in all life stages to humans and they can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever to cats, dogs, and humans. These ticks also have a type of neurotoxin in their saliva which can lead to tick paralysis in both pets and humans.

When mature, a wood tick will have eight legs. Females will be around 5 mm long, while males will measure around 3.6 mm in length. After they feed, however, the females could grow up to 1.5 cm long. Both females and males will have grayish patterns that can help you recognize this type of tick, but males will have a mottled gray color along the back, while females will be nearly totally gray behind the head.

What is the Gulf Coast tick?

If this is the first time you’re hearing about this tick, you’re not alone. 83% of dog owners couldn’t identify the Gulf Coast tick as a threat in their area, even though they live where this tick is prevalent[1].

The Gulf Coast tick is a species of tick that may spread diseases to your dog or cause tick paralysis[2]. The Gulf Coast tick is mainly found in the Southeast region of the U.S. in cities including Atlanta, Charleston, Tampa, and Miami, and continues to spread north and west, as far as Maryland and Oklahoma. Take a look at this map from the CDC to see where the Gulf Coast tick is currently active[3].

Diseases the Gulf Coast tick can cause

Tick paralysis

Tick paralysis is a serious medical condition that is caused by a neurotoxin found in tick saliva that is passed onto your dog (or you) after tick attachment. Tick paralysis is caused by many tick species, including the Gulf Coast tick. Signs of infection include change or loss of bark, hind limb weakness and incoordination, breathing difficulty, gagging or coughing, vomiting, and difficulty eating[4]. If you suspect tick paralysis in your dog, see your veterinarian immediately, because left untreated, tick paralysis may be fatal.