Why is my dog's tick bite swollen, purple, and infected weeks later?

A tick bite typically leaves a "granuloma." This is a reaction to the tick's saliva. It should resolve on its own in a a few days to a few weeks. Monitor for signs of infection, lameness, lethargy, swollen or painful joints or fever. Use a [tick preventive](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/category/dog/dog-and-puppy-flea-and-tick) such as FrontLine, K9 Advantix, Bravecto, NexGard or a Seresto collar. Always check for [ticks on your dog](https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-places-ticks-hide-on-dogs) upon returning home for outdoors.

Oh my. Poor guy. This is quite unusual for a tick bite to cause this much tissue damage. I suspect there is likely a resistant bacteria involved here and the tissue around the edges of this do not appear healthy. This area needs to be surgically debrided to remove the dead and diseased tissue and then I would highly consider getting this area cultured ot determine what antibiotic will help resolve this. I am so sorry your pet is having a hard time healing this area, but this is going to require some thorough management if this is every going to heal properly. I would recommend scheduling an appt with your vet as soon as you can. Until you can get in to your vet, its best to clean this with Betadine diluted 50;50 with water. Best of luck moving forward with Brodee's wound. Take care.

A small amount of localized swelling and redness is a normal inflammatory reaction after tick removal. However, if the swelling and redness persists then you should have your vet take a look at it. You could clean the area with a wound wash and then apply a topical OTC antibiotic cream to the area. Make sure to use a good flea and tick prevention, NexGard, Bravecto, Credelio. Also, talk to your vet about vaccinating for Lyme disease is she isn't vaccinated. Monitor for any abnormal signs and talk your vet about yearly testing for tick borne diseases and heartworms.

Hi there, and thank you for posting this question. Ticks produce a lot in inflammation at the site where they feed. It is very common for tick reaction sites to be present for a few weeks.’ During that time it should be receding . However, if Burt is licking or scratching it he may have caused a secondary infection. If there is discharge, foul odor, or if seems to be getting larger rather than smaller then I would highly encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks like a small focus of infection. You can try to shave around it and clean it. If it continues to look superficial (as it looks on the picture), you can consider applying a thin film of triple antibiotic on it in case it is just a mild infection. If it does not resolve within 1 week of starting such treatment, have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good day!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This actually looks very inflamed and possibly infected. I recommend that you have Mikey evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. This will likely respond well to antibiotics and local therapy with flushing and cleaning of the wound. Good luck and have a good night!

It’s common for a tick bite to have a raised firm nodule in the skin for several weeks. Be patient I expect this to go away in time. If not I recommend surgical removal and biopsy to get rid of it and check it for abnormal cells. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Amos.