You can search only visually in combination with your fingers (for attached ticks). Most common places are the ears and neck but generally speaking... on the head. If you are lucky while searching, you can find them crawling from the legs towards the upper body where the actually settle down :? Ticks are slow... so you have good chances of finding them. I always do a quick search on Balu once we get back from the fields, even though she wears a colar and a fluid.
Usually ticks, once they are attached, do not leave the host's body even if they are fed well. This is done with the fleas. The fleas are feeding themselves... and then leave! That's why, if you find fleas, you must clean all the areas where the animal rests. If you find a tick on the floor, then you are lucky ;-)
By the way, if a tick is well fed, its belly is like a small pea... so.... ;-)
Anyway, don't worry, it's the warm weather.... we are full of ticks down here if that comforts you ;-) A month ago I found an alive one on Balu's leg and 3 more dead near her...and every week I find a couple more... usually dead, actually the last one was attached on her ear and died!!! So, cheer up, arm youself with patient and a good fluid/colar for the dog. :-)
g'luck
George.
