[TotesMcGotes]

I took my 15 week pup out in the yard today. I live in upstate NY (Albany region) where there are ticks in our yard unfortunately. He's on nexgard. Not sure if this is a tick bite or rather a black fly bite or something else?

The mark, in my opinion, appears to be from when he was lying in the grass and it's gotten bigger since we played in the yard.

Should I be concerned about Lyme disease? Or is this more likely a black fly bite?

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Same photo from before but now the mark got bigger after about an hour.

 

[krandall]

A tick does not bite and then fall off that fast. A tick would be on him for many, MANY hours, feeding and engorging with blood, ballooning up to the size of a small pea before finally dropping off, leaving a small, hard, "knot" in the skin behind. That doesn't look like either a tick bite OR a black file bite to me. I'd wash it carefully, then keep an eye on it. If it gets bigger, call the vet.

BTW, dogs do not get at "bullseye rash" that humans get from Lyme, even if that was what it looked like.

 

[mudpuppymama]

My dogs have had many ticks over the years and I have not seen anything like that. Sometimes if they have one they will bite or gnaw at it to get it off and cause a bit of a sore spot. I am wondering if you noticed the dog licking or biting the area. This has only happened a couple times with mine but it was a very tiny sore spot from them trying to get off a tick that mom missed.

 

[TotesMcGotes]

A tick does not bite and then fall off that fast. A tick would be on him for many, MANY hours, feeding and engorging with blood, ballooning up to the size of a small pea before finally dropping off, leaving a small, hard, "knot" in the skin behind. That doesn't look like either a tick bite OR a black file bite to me. I'd wash it carefully, then keep an eye on it. If it gets bigger, call the vet.

BTW, dogs do not get at "bullseye rash" that humans get from Lyme, even if that was what it looked like.

My dogs have had many ticks over the years and I have not seen anything like that. Sometimes if they have one they will bite or gnaw at it to get it off and cause a bit of a sore spot. I am wondering if you noticed the dog licking or biting the area. This has only happened a couple times with mine but it was a very tiny sore spot from them trying to get off a tick that mom missed.

Thanks - this at least rules out ticks. He also has been eating Darwin's Duck for the first time for the last 4 days which he really enjoys. Duck being a poultry - I wonder if it could cause a skin allergy since dogs may have issues with chicken. But I doubt it. I only noticed this after he was in the yard. I will monitor it over the next day and if it gets worse check with the vet. Thanks!

 

[Heather's]

That doesn't look like a tick bite. I removed a tick above Truffles eye last week. It only left a little swelling and redness at the site for about two days.

 

[EvaE1izabeth]

I can’t tell if it’s sort of like an abrasion? Or if it’s smooth?

i wonder if the size is because it’s location causes it to rub. Mudpuppymama, I remember the issue was bigger but didn’t you recently have to protect a wound that was in a place where it could be easily rubbed?

 

[KarMar]

Looks exactly like a lot of the black fly bites we see here in the clinic. While often they're lighter than that with a darker outside edge, it's not uncommon for them to look that severe. Should go away on its own, but if he seems to become itchy or painful, it warrants a vet visit.

 

[KeriG]

Hello! I am also in the Albany, NY area (Ballston Spa). When I lived in WI, my Kadee had a spot that looked exactly like that. My vet said it was more than likely just a raw area from licking herself. She never had any symptoms, or any more spots, just the one.