Found a tick in my bed. Should I worry about an infestation or eggs?

Thank you for submitting your question. A tick needs to feed while on a dog and then it will drop off after breeding to lay eggs. So this would not have been possible if the tick was removed from the dog while feeding. It sounds like you did a thorough job of cleaning as well. So I do not believe you need to worry. I hope this information helps!

For the most part, ticks do not cause much harm, but do have the potential to transmit certain diseases and some can cause neurologic problems. Some of these diseases and complications would be obvious if they occurred already. It's good to clip the hair around where the tick was and examine the skin for any redness or swelling - this can indicate an infection. The vet can do some blood tests for the commonly transmitted diseases if necessary. However, it's likely that Pico will be completely fine. Fully engorged ticks will lay eggs in the environment, so I would make sure to clean under any dark areas of the house. Normal flea/tick medication can be given to kill other ticks and prevent any more from getting on him. I recommend the spot-on treatments like Frontline and Revolution. Your vet will be able to give you the best products, so I recommend waiting until Monday to get these. In the meantime, you can give a bath. There are some flea/tick shampoos that you can get at the pet store. Just make sure you use it as directed by the manufacturer. I hope that helps and all is well with Pico.

Hi and thanks for you question. Nexgard is indicated for the treatment and prevention of fleas and 4 major types of ticks, but not bed bugs. Sorry you are having an issue with bed bugs- they have been making a come back lately! You may want to call your local pest control and they will be able to help you get rid of them. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

No, if you got the tick off within a day they generally don’t get sick from ticks. If there is any question you can get a tick infection test done at your veterinary clinic. I recommend starting a veterinary oral tick and flea prevention product when he’s old enough, like Bravecto or Nexgard so he doesn’t get more ticks. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Boa.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Bree. Good on you for making sure that she is protected from ticks. Given that the tick is not engorged, it did not feed her on, so no disease would have been transmitted. The tick needs to bite and feed to pass along disease into her bloodstream. I imagine she is quite tired from her busy day. To be safe, watch for continued lethargy, limping, joint swelling, and a loss of appetite. I hope this helps!

You should not worry if no more signs have shown and your dog is on a high quality flea preventative. You are doing exactly what you need to do in order to prevent fleas in your home. Keep up the good work!

There are a few oral products that generally work very well for ticks if you can get them. They are Nexgard and Simparica. They are tablets that you give once a month. Both dogs should be started on this medications your veterinarian agreed. First you will need to speak with your veterinarian to make sure these medications are not contraindicated. Most parents can take them but pets with seizures may not. Make sure to ask your local veterinarian if there are concerns for tickborne diseases in your area. If so, your veterinarian may want to treat the pets prophylactically. Treating the local environment as best you can with insecticides may also help. I hope this gives you some ideas. Best of luck.