Found strange bugs on my dog, not fleas or ticks. What are they?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sounds terrifying, but that isn't a normal parasite of dogs and I think it was just a bug that got on her in the car or outside. I think she will be fine! I wish you the best!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Without seeing Bambi I can't tell you sure sure. Fleas a very small, black in color, and very fast. They leave behind brown flecks that when rubbed under water turn reddish-brown. If you see these flecks, he has fleas, even if you can't see the fleas. Ticks are much larger and slower. They have several legs and they typically stay attached to the skin. If you are concerned, talk to your vet about a flea and tick prevention that you give every 30 days. Good luck and kisses to Bambi!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It’s hard to see the bug in your picture. It is likely fleas. I would start a flea medication. I like the oral ones like Nexgard, Simparica or Bravecto and I also like the Setesto collar which lasts 8 months. With these you can bathe him as well. With the topical medications you can’t bathe until 2 days after application. And personally I do not think they work as well. I hope this helps!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Thanks for the picture! It looks like an engorged tick. Gently lift it up and if you see 8 legs then it is a tick. Pull it gently off the skin where the head attaches to the skin or you can have your Vet for Vet tech remove it for you. I would change the brand of tick prevention you are using or start using one. I hope this helps!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! While that does look like it could be a tick, it is difficult to see from the photo. Ticks are also usually found in haired areas of skin rather than the lips. Because it is not clear what this is, I do not recommend removing it from Charlie yourself. Especially because of the proximity to the mouth and possibility that Charlie may bite if painful. If this is truly a tick, Charlie should be seen by a vet, as ticks can transmit Lyme disease and other blood parasites, and he may need to be put on prophylactic antibiotics. If this is a mass, your vet can elect to remove it under light sedation or anesthesia and send it off to lab as a biopsy. I recommend having Charlie seen by a vet as soon as you are able to and hope all is well!

I wouldn't recommend anything else specific as long as you don't see any other bugs. If you see more or if you look at the base of Cosmo's tail and along his back and see little black flecks of dirt in his fur that could be flea dirt (the feces that fleas leave behind) then I'd recommend talking to your vet about a different flea preventative. In some areas there is resistance to topical flea medication.

That is a tick. You should use fine-point tweezers, to avoid tearing the tick and spreading possible infections into the bite area. Spread your dog's fur, then grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Very gently, pull straight upward, in a slow, steady motion.