If you've found a tick crawling up a wall or across a dog bed in your Waldwick home, you may be dealing with brown dog ticks. Most ticks live outdoors and only come inside by accident. The brown dog tick is different. It can live, feed and breed entirely indoors, which means a few ticks can turn into a household problem. Below, we'll cover how to identify brown dog ticks, the signs of an indoor infestation, whether they're a health concern and how to get rid of them. Because both your pet and your house need attention, our flea and tick treatments are designed to handle the indoor side of the problem.
What Brown Dog Ticks Are
The brown dog tick is a hard tick found in many parts of the world. As the name suggests, dogs are its main host. It will bite people occasionally, but it strongly prefers dogs. Here's what to look for:
- Color. Plain reddish-brown, with no white or silver markings on the back.
- Shape. Flat and teardrop-shaped before feeding.
- After feeding. Engorged females swell up and turn a bluish-gray color.
The lack of markings is an important clue. American dog ticks, which live outdoors, have whitish markings on their backs. Deer ticks are smaller and darker.
Why They Live Indoors
Most ticks need outdoor humidity and leaf litter to survive. Brown dog ticks are adapted to the drier conditions inside buildings. After a tick feeds on a dog, it drops off and crawls away to hide while it molts or lays eggs. Indoors, that means:
- Cracks and crevices. Gaps along baseboards, door and window frames and floorboards.
- Behind things. Behind pictures, curtains, furniture and wall hangings.
- Pet areas. Dog beds, crates, kennels and the spots where your dog likes to rest.
A female lays a large batch of eggs in a hidden spot, and the new ticks go looking for the same dog. Because the whole cycle can happen inside, the numbers build up over time if nothing breaks it.
Signs You Have Brown Dog Ticks
- Ticks on walls and ceilings. Brown dog ticks tend to crawl upward. Seeing ticks climbing walls or curtains is a classic sign.
- Repeated ticks on your dog. Ticks keep showing up even when your dog hasn't been in tall grass or woods.
- Ticks around pet areas. You find ticks near the dog bed, crate or favorite resting spots.
- Different sizes at once. Tiny larvae, small nymphs and larger adults together point to breeding indoors.
- Ticks on your dog's ears and between the toes. These are favorite feeding spots.
Hard ticks and soft ticks behave differently around homes. Our guide to soft ticks vs. hard ticks in NJ homes explains the difference.
Are Brown Dog Ticks Dangerous?
Brown dog ticks can carry diseases that affect dogs, and heavy infestations can make dogs uncomfortable and irritated. If your dog has ticks, seems tired, isn't eating or just doesn't seem right, talk to your veterinarian. They can check for tick-related illness and recommend the right prevention.
These ticks bite people far less often, but it does happen. In some regions, they've been linked to disease in people. If you're bitten and feel unwell, or a bite concerns you, see a doctor.
How To Get Rid Of Brown Dog Ticks
Treating the dog alone won't solve an indoor problem, because most of the ticks are hiding in the house. The approach that works covers both:
- Treat every dog. Ask your veterinarian for tick prevention that suits each pet, and keep it consistent.
- Remove ticks carefully. Check your dog daily and remove any attached ticks promptly. Your veterinarian can show you how.
- Wash pet bedding. Wash dog beds, blankets and crate pads in hot water and dry them on high heat.
- Vacuum thoroughly. Vacuum along baseboards, under furniture and around pet areas, then empty the vacuum outside.
- Seal hiding spots. Caulk gaps along baseboards and trim to cut down on places for ticks to hide.
- Treat the home. Targeted treatment of cracks, crevices and pet areas reaches the ticks you can't see.
It can take several weeks to break the cycle, because eggs and hidden ticks keep developing. Staying consistent with your dog's prevention during that time matters.
When To Call A Professional
If you're seeing ticks indoors more than once, the population hiding in your home is likely larger than it looks. Our NJ DEP-licensed technicians inspect your home, find where ticks are hiding and apply targeted treatments using EPA-registered, eco-safe products. We follow Integrated Pest Management and will let you know about any temporary precautions for pets. Every treatment is backed by the EcoGuard Guarantee, and we offer free inspections with same-day and next-day service.
Brown dog ticks are persistent, but they can be beaten with steady pet care and a thorough home treatment. If you're spotting ticks on the walls of your Waldwick home, now is the time to act.