Ticks are spider-like, egg-shaped, blood-sucking creepy crawlies. They have eight legs and vary in size from about 1mm to 1cm long. Adult ticks look a bit like small spiders. In today's article, we are going to look at French Bulldog and Ticks.
Ticks don’t fly or jump, but climb or drop on to your dog’s coat when you brush past the area they are sitting in, especially grasses and other vegetation.
Tick season is usually started in late April to early May and ends in July. Over the few past years, ticks are becoming present all year long, they are adapting to adverse environmental conditions and learning to survive.
The Life-Cycle of Ticks
Ticks have a 7-stage life-cycle:
Stage 1: Female Ticks Deposit from 3,000 to 6,000 eggs on the ground
Stage 2: Eggs hatch to larvae on the soil
Stage 3: Larvae feed on host animal (In this piece, we take French Bulldog as the host animal)
Stage 4: Engorged Larvae develop to nymph stage and fall to the ground.
Stage 5: Nymphae seek for host animal for feeding.
Stage 6: Engorged nymphae fall to the ground again and develop to the adult stage.
Stage 7: Adult ticks attach to Frenchies for feeding and after engorgement on blood, mate.
Typically, Male hard tick would die after mating, females also die after laying the eggs, and the life-cycle continues. Generally, it takes two to 24 months or more for a tick to complete its life cycle.
Types and Species of Ticks
There are two types of ticks, they are:
- Ixodidae also known as hard ticks: This is the type of tick that possesses a hard shield that hidden in their mouthpart. Ixodidae looks like a flat seed when they are unfed, or yet to feed on your blood or your dog's.
- Argasidae or Soft Ticks: The second type of tick is the Argasidae or soft tick, usually shaped like a raisin and also have a hard shield. This type of tick are usually found on birds and bats, they are commonly seen on dogs.
In the North America for instance, there are a minimum of 15 species of ticks that has been identified, there are however only 4 of these species that are commonly found on French Bulldogs and they are as follows:
- Lone Star Ticks
- American Dog Ticks
- Brown Dog Ticks, and
- Deer or Blacklegged Ticks
American Dog Ticks are attracted by the dog scent, and even the scent of humans. So, you'll find them at places like road sides, paths, trails, and even recreational areas, especially natural parks with green vegetation. Studies has shown that American Dog Ticks are essentially outdoor ticks and they dependent a lot on Climatic and environmental conditions to survive. They are not quite seasonal, they can be found at any time of the year, but are more during the spring.
Lone Star Ticks also bit both human and French Bulldogs. They commonly found in wood materials and brushy areas; most the underbrush part, majorly along the creeks and river limits. Another place you'll find Lone Star Ticks is where your Frenchie sleeps. They are generally seen all year long but more commonly present between March and May; July and August.
Deer or Blacklegged Ticks are equally found in wooded areas by the side of trails. This species presence at which time of the year all depends on the stages of their development. For instance, the Larvae and Nymphae would more predominantly available during the period of Spring and Early Summer; On the other hand, Adults ticks are more commonly seen at other time of the year; Spring and Fall. This is the stage of the tick's life that's capable of transmitting Lyme disease and Ehrlichiosis to both Frenchies and their owners.
Brown Dog Ticks. They feed on dogs literally, and they can also bite humans. This species is able to survive indoors. Kennels and homes with dogs are more prone to experiencing this species of ticks. You'll find them at the area of the house like Cracks, behind radiators, under rugs and furniture, and on curtains and walls. Their survival disposition is probably not surprising because this species of ticks originated from tropical areas, and generally, they are unable to live long outdoors especially during winter seasons.
These are the types and species of Ticks found on French Bulldog. We hope that this article has been able to give you a level of exposure in this area. If you have any comment or question, kindly leave a word below in the comment box.
1 comment
Hello Frenchie owners- living in the Northeast you would know ticks of ALL kinds are a huge problem. Make sure you treat your loved one with flea and tick product every month ON TIME plus there are Lyme Disease Vacines to help protect them. They need one every year. Living in the country can be challenging with tick prevention. There are natural products to treat your yard for flea and ticks. Check your frencjie everyday. My frenchie sleeps in my bed so I have a dust buster to vacuum the bed everyday. I also vacuum the entire house during the summer every couple of days. What people don’t realize is that the Lyme tick is so tiny you may not even see it. Protect yourself when outdoors and walking along the road. I can’t stress this information enough. Lyme disease is deadly along with the other tick borne illnesses. Be aware and protect your frenchie!!! 🐾