Ticks and fleas can spread quickly and with ease, especially on pets with dense fur. Their coats can harbor these pests, letting them stay undetected for weeks or months. Initially, the symptoms of a tick infestation will be mild and not cause any major discomfort. But as the ticks burrow deeper, they can cause visible signs and pain, becoming a source of nuisance for the pet. Here are common signs of a tick bite: Swelling and redness The first sign of any kind of skin distress is swelling and redness that develop due to inflammation. For pets, this symptom is usually a result of a tick bite. So, one can check under the fur coat for signs like excessive swelling and redness or bumps that are red or pink in color. There is a chance that pests have burrowed deep into the skin in the affected area. Ticks feed off the blood and make a home deep into the skin, so it may be easier to check with a flashlight. Bumps and nodules Pests like fleas and ticks feed on the blood of pets and grow in size during an infestation. Also, as the pests burrow deep into the skin, the increase in size can make the skin develop a bump.