Castor bean / sheep tick in dogs – signs
Book a vet visitBook a vet appointment if you think your dog has this – a vet needs to confirm it and plan the treatment. It is a tick parasite, and dogs get it when the tick attaches to their skin.
What you can do now
- Contact your vet.
- Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
- Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
- Keep fresh water available and let your dog rest somewhere calm.
Don't
- Do not give any human medicine.
- Do not wait if it gets worse.
What it is and how it spreads
Dogs pick it up as an attached tick on the skin, including non-hairy, thin-skinned areas such as the face, ears, armpits, between the toes, groin and around the anus.[1] It is widely distributed in Europe except northern Scandinavia.[1] In the UK and central Europe, activity typically has peaks from March to June and from August to November.[1] Climate change tends to extend its seasonal activity.[2]
Signs
How pets pick it up
Where in Europe it occurs
| Country | Occurrence |
|---|---|
| Austria | Present |
| Belgium | Present |
| Czechia | Present |
| Denmark | Present |
| Finland | Present |
| France | Present |
| Germany | Present |
| Ireland | Present |
| Italy | Present |
| Netherlands | Present |
| Norway | Present |
| Poland | Present |
| Portugal | Present |
| Romania | Present |
| Spain | Present |
| Sweden | Present |
| Switzerland | Present |
| United Kingdom | Present |
What the experts say
“the main predilection sites are the non-hairy and thin-skinned areas such as the face, ears, axillae, interdigital, inguinal and perianal regions.”
“However climate change is tending to extend this seasonal activity.”
Not sure how serious it is?
OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.
OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.
Common questions
Where in Europe does it occur?
It is widely distributed in Europe except northern Scandinavia.[1]
When is it most active in the UK and central Europe?
There are typically two peaks: from March to June and from August to November.[1]
Where on a dog is it commonly attached?
It is commonly attached to non-hairy, thin-skinned areas such as the face, ears, armpits, between the toes, groin and around the anus.[1]
Sources
How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages
Dog Tapeworm / Hydatid
Heartworm
Skin worm (Dirofilaria repens)