How to Check for Ticks: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Check for Ticks at a Glance

Use good lighting and follow the same order each time. A quick look at only one or two areas can leave small or well-hidden ticks unnoticed.

1. Check clothing, shoes and outdoor equipment.
2. Look over exposed skin before removing clothing.
3. Inspect the entire body or coat systematically.
4. Pay extra attention to warm, protected and hard-to-see areas.
5. Check the scalp, hairline, ears and skin folds carefully.
6. Use a mirror, another person or a camera for areas you cannot see clearly.
7. Inspect any small bump, dark spot or unusual area without pulling at it.
8. Remove an attached tick carefully and monitor the area afterward.

A small dark spot is not automatically a tick. The guide How to Identify a Tick explains common tick features and possible look-alikes.

Where Do Ticks Commonly Hide?

Ticks can attach almost anywhere. A complete check is therefore more useful than checking only the areas that were directly exposed outdoors.

Hair, scalp and hairline

Part longer or thick hair into small sections and inspect the scalp gradually. Check the hairline, the back of the neck and the areas around and behind the ears.

A mirror, another person or the Tick Camera can help with areas that are difficult to inspect directly.

Behind the ears and around the neck

Look behind both ears, around the outer ear and along the neck. Do not forget the transition between the neck and hairline.

Armpits and arms

Raise each arm and inspect the armpits and the surrounding skin. Continue along the arms and check the inside of the elbows.

Waist, belly and navel

Inspect the waistline, belly, navel and any skin folds. Areas covered by tight clothing or waistbands can be easy to overlook.

Groin and skin folds

Check the groin and nearby skin folds carefully and privately. These areas may be difficult to inspect without a mirror or assistance.

Legs and behind the knees

Check the full length of both legs, including the inner thighs and the areas behind the knees.

Feet, ankles and between the toes

Inspect the ankles, tops and soles of the feet and the spaces between the toes. Also check around sock lines and footwear.

Pet ears, collar area and paws

On dogs and cats, ticks may be hidden around the ears, head, neck, collar area, armpits, groin, belly, paws and between the toes.

How to Check for Ticks Step by Step

A consistent routine makes the check easier and reduces the chance of accidentally skipping an area.

1. Choose a well-lit place

Use bright, even lighting. Natural daylight can help, but a bright indoor light, mirror or phone light may be useful for small or shaded areas.

2. Check clothing and equipment

Ticks can remain on clothing or equipment before attaching. Inspect items worn or used outdoors, including:

• Trousers and trouser cuffs
• Socks and shoes
• Shirts and jackets
• Seams and waistbands
• Backpacks and outdoor equipment
• Pet leads, harnesses and bedding

3. Check from the feet upward

Beginning at the feet gives you a clear starting point. Move slowly upward along each leg instead of jumping between unrelated areas.

For pets, begin at the paws and move gradually along each leg toward the body.

4. Inspect protected areas carefully

Spend extra time on warm, covered and hard-to-see places, including:

• Behind the knees
• Groin and nearby skin folds
• Waist and navel
• Armpits
• Behind the ears
• Neck and hairline
• Under a pet’s collar or harness
• Between a pet’s toes

5. Check the back and other hard-to-see areas

Use a full-length mirror together with a hand mirror, or ask a trusted person to help inspect areas you cannot see clearly.

Your smartphone camera may also help you look more closely at the back, scalp, skin folds or areas hidden by fur.

6. Check the head, scalp and hair last

Inspect the neck, ears, areas behind the ears, hairline and scalp. Work through thick hair in small sections rather than trying to inspect everything at once.

7. Run your fingers slowly over the skin or coat

A slow fingertip check may help you notice a small attached bump. However, touch alone cannot confirm whether a bump is a tick.

On pets, part the fur and inspect the skin whenever you feel a small lump or raised area.

8. Take a second look at suspicious spots

Use good lighting and look from more than one angle. Do not scrape, twist or pull a spot until you have looked closely enough to understand what it may be.

What Should You Do With a Possible Tick?

A dark spot, small bump or raised area is not always a tick. Scabs, moles, skin tags, debris and other skin changes may look similar at first glance.

Do not forcibly scratch, cut or pull at an unclear spot.

Instead, follow these steps:

1. Move to a well-lit area.
2. Look at the spot from different angles.
3. Check whether a small body or legs are visible.
4. Use magnification or a camera view when helpful.
5. Avoid squeezing or repeatedly disturbing the area.
6. Seek professional advice when the spot remains unclear or concerning.

These guides may help you decide what to do next:

Are You Checking a Person, Child, Dog or Cat?

The most important areas differ depending on who you are checking. Use the dedicated guide for more detailed instructions.

Checking an adult for ticks

Check the entire body, including the scalp, hairline, ears, armpits, waist, groin, back, legs and feet.

Checking a child for ticks

For children, pay close attention to the scalp, hairline, behind the ears, neck, armpits, waist and behind the knees. Keep the check calm and age-appropriate.

Checking a dog for ticks

Part the fur and inspect the ears, head, neck, collar area, armpits, belly, groin, paws and spaces between the toes.

Checking a cat for ticks

Check around the head, ears, neck and collar area before moving along the body, legs and paws. Handle the cat calmly and stop if the animal becomes distressed.

Found a Tick: What Should You Do Next?

An attached tick should be removed carefully. Use fine-tipped tweezers or a suitable tick-removal tool, grasp the tick close to the skin and pull upward steadily without crushing it.

After removal, clean the area and continue to monitor it for changes.

How to Remove a Tick Safely

Depending on the situation, these pages may also be helpful:

Check After Hiking, Gardening or Outdoor Activities

Check your body, clothing, equipment and pets after spending time in grassy, wooded or brush-covered areas. Ticks may also be encountered in gardens and other outdoor spaces.

Making the check part of your regular routine is more reliable than waiting until you notice a bite or unusual spot.

How to Check for Ticks After Hiking →

Common Tick-Checking Mistakes

Checking only the legs

Ticks can attach to many parts of the body. Checking only the lower legs may leave other areas unexamined.

Forgetting the scalp and hairline

The scalp, hairline, neck and areas behind the ears are easy to miss during a quick check.

Moving too quickly

Very small ticks can resemble freckles, dirt or tiny dark spots. A rushed check makes them easier to overlook.

Skipping private or hard-to-see areas

The back, skin folds, groin and other covered areas should be included in a complete check whenever appropriate.

Pulling at every dark spot

Not every dark or raised spot is a tick. Inspect unclear areas before attempting removal.

Checking the body but not clothing or pets

Ticks may remain on clothing, equipment or pet fur before attaching to a person.