Tick — Dogs

The story behind the answer

Tick is correct. The image shows an oval, engorged body with a small head and eight legs—hallmarks of a tick (an arachnid, not an insect). Ticks attach with barbed mouthparts and swell as they feed on blood, often around a dog’s ears, neck, and between toes.

Why it matters: ticks can transmit Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis to dogs. Use preventives and check your dog after walks in grass or woods. Memory tip: eight legs = arachnid = tick; fleas are tiny jump