The Easy 5-minute Monthly Ticks and Mites Check Routine

Ticks and mites are external parasites that live on or in animals to survive. While both belong to the same arachnid family (small eight-legged arthropods), they differ in size and behaviour. Ticks are larger and visible to the naked eye, feeding on blood, while mites are microscopic and usually live on or within the skin, in hair follicles, or inside the ears, where they feed on skin cells, tissue fluids, or ear wax.

Both parasites can easily spread within the home and may lead to severe skin infections in pets, and even potential health complications in humans if left untreated.¹
 

Why Ticks and Mites On Dogs Are Common in Singapore

Singapore's warm and humid climate provides ideal conditions for ticks and mites to thrive year-round. Dogs can become infested through contact with other pets carrying these parasites, particularly during play or social interactions. In addition, ticks are commonly found in outdoor environments such as parks and grassy areas, where they wait on the tips of grass or vegetation before attaching themselves to passing animals.²˒³

According to a recent nationwide study, 362 ticks were collected from 38 dogs, with the brown dog tick identified as the most commonly encountered species, highlighting that tick infestations remain a common problem among local dogs.⁴ Nevertheless, while dogs that spend time outdoors are at a higher risk of exposure, indoor dogs are not completely protected as ticks and mites can easily be brought into the home on clothing, shoes, or by other animals.

Ticks are external parasites that feed on the blood of their hosts to survive, develop, and reproduce. Visible to the naked eye, they resemble tiny brown or grey spiders and become larger and more swollen as they feed, with some species remaining attached to their host for up to 14 days before detaching to lay eggs.

Mites, on the other hand, are microscopic parasites that are often difficult to see with the naked eye. They live on or beneath the skin, within hair follicles, or inside the ears, where they feed on skin oils, debris, or tissue fluids to survive and complete their life cycle, which typically lasts between 17 and 28 days.

Unfortunately, ticks can pose health risks to both animals and humans, as they are capable of carrying bacteria, viruses, and parasites that cause a variety of diseases. When an infected tick bites a host, these disease-causing organisms may be transmitted. In humans, tick-borne diseases may result in flu-like symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headaches, and muscle aches.³ In dogs, infections may cause fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, weight loss, pale gums, and enlarged lymph nodes, and in severe cases can lead to anaemia, bleeding disorders, or organ damage if left untreated.³

Mites, meanwhile, primarily affect a dog's skin and ears. If left untreated, mite infestations can cause intense itching, inflammation, hair loss, and secondary skin infections, which may significantly impact a dog's comfort and quality of life.

To keep your pet happy, healthy, and comfortable, it is important for pet owners to include a monthly check for ticks and mites as part of their dog’s regular grooming routine to identify issues early and prevent infestations from worsening. Although ticks and mites can be difficult to detect in the early stages,⁶ spending just five minutes each month to examine your dog can make a significant difference.

Here are some practical tips to help you detect ticks and mites on your dog:

1. Check Areas with Unusual Scratching

An increase in scratching, licking, or shaking may indicate a possible infestation, as dogs often scratch to dislodge ticks embedded in the skin or to relieve irritation caused by mite bites, saliva, waste products, or burrowing activity.

When grooming your dog, pay extra attention to areas that are frequently scratched, including:

• Ears – The warm folds and thin skin around the ears provide an ideal hiding spot as the warm, sheltered folds provide protection from grooming and scratching. Mites also thrive in and around the ears because ears are warm, moist and accessible to skin debris that some ticks and mites feed on. 

• Neck folds – Ticks often attach to skin folds that are less likely to be disturbed during scratching.

• Underarms – These warm, sheltered areas are hotspots for ticks as they are difficult to inspect during grooming.

• Belly – The thinner skin on the belly makes it easier for ticks to attach.

• Between the toes – Ticks picked up from grass or vegetation may crawl into these hard-to-see spaces as they are often overlooked during grooming and provide a protected environment where ticks can attach undisturbed. It can also trap moisture which makes this area more attractive to mites.

• Base of the tail – Dense fur in this area can help ticks go unnoticed and is also difficult for dogs to reach for scratching or biting.

2. Check the Skin for Signs of Irritation

Next, examine your dog’s skin closely. Visible signs that may be associated with tick infestations include:

• Redness – This may indicate irritation or a reaction to a tick bite.⁷

• Swelling – A small bump or raised area may appear around the bite site as the body's immune system responds to the tick bite.⁷ 

• Small bumps – These may result from recent tick bites or localized skin irritation.⁷
• Scabs or crusty patches – These can form as the skin heals from bites or from repeated scratching and licking.⁷

3. Watch for Excessive Licking or Chewing

Dogs often try to soothe irritated areas by licking, chewing, or nibbling. If your dog repeatedly focuses on the same spot, it may indicate discomfort caused by localised ticks or mites.
 

4. Feel for Hidden Hitchhikers

Run your hands slowly through your dog’s coat, paying close attention to common hiding spots such as the ears, neck, underarms, groin, and between the toes. A flea comb can also help you inspect more closely.

Ticks may feel like small bumps attached to the skin and can vary in appearance depending on how long they have been feeding:

• Brown or Black – Ticks may appear brown or black when they have not yet taken in much blood. Their size and appearance can vary depending on the tick species, but immature ticks often look like a grain of sand or a poppy seed.⁸

• Red-brown – Ticks may appear red-brown after they have started feeding and ingesting blood. The colour change indicates that feeding is underway, although feeding rates vary between tick species and life stages.⁸

• Grey and engorged – A grey, swollen appearance indicates that the tick has been attached for several days and has consumed a substantial blood meal. Female ticks become especially enlarged as they accumulate the nutrients needed for egg production after detaching from the host.⁸

5. Don't Forget the Ears

Some mites, particularly ear mites, live inside the ear canal and can cause intense itching due to irritation, movement within the ear, inflammation from mite secretions, and debris buildup from waste and dead mites.

Symptoms of ear mites in dogs include:

• Excessive ear scratching – Dogs may repeatedly scratch their ears due to the irritation and itching caused by mite activity, inflammation, and the buildup of debris inside the ear canal.² Persistent scratching can also lead to further irritation or injury to the skin around the ears.

• Dark, waxy debris resembling coffee grounds – A common sign of ear mites is the presence of dark, crumbly debris inside the ear canal. This material is made up of ear wax, oils, skin debris, and waste from the mites, which can accumulate as the infestation progresses.²

• Head shaking – Dogs may frequently shake their heads in an attempt to relieve the discomfort, itching, or blocked sensation caused by the buildup of debris inside the ear canal. Repeated head shaking may also contribute to further irritation or ear injury.²

• Redness or inflammation inside the ears – The ear canal may appear red, swollen, or sensitive due to ongoing irritation from mites, reactions to mite saliva and waste products, and self-trauma caused by frequent scratching and head shaking.²

While over-the-counter products may help manage active infestations, it is always important to seek prompt veterinary advice. A veterinarian can properly assess your dog for any underlying conditions caused by ticks or mites and recommend appropriate treatment to address both active infestations and help reduce the risk of future reinfestation to ensure your pet is protected at all times.

In many cases, veterinarians may recommend monthly preventive medications such as NexGard SPECTRA®. This all-in-one monthly treatment helps protect against ticks and mites by using the ingredient afoxolaner, which is absorbed into your dog’s bloodstream. When a tick or mite bites your dog, it ingests the medication through the blood meal, which disrupts its nervous system and leads to parasite death, typically within 48 hours.

Build a Monthly Routine

While parasite prevention products are effective at protecting your dog against a wide range of parasites, their effectiveness depends on consistent monthly administration. Missing even a single dose can leave a gap in protection, allowing parasites such as ticks and mites to return.

However, with the demands of work, family, and everyday life, remembering your dog’s monthly parasite prevention can sometimes be challenging. If you need a little help staying on track, try the FREE PetCare Reminders® tool. It provides automatic reminders synced to your calendar, alerting you when it is time to give your pet its monthly dose, helping ensure continuous year-round protection.

So, what are you waiting for? Set up your FREE PetCare Reminders® account today and never miss a dose again!

1. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24911-parasites   

2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091674902913175

3. https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/prevention

4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39864721/ 

5. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7429691/

6. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-020-04288-8

7. https://ijmpes.com/Article/ijmpes-3141

8. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877959X25000056