Tick Id - Deer, Dog or other?

[mike0]

Well, I'd like to pretend I joined the forum because I love insects, but in reality, I'm just a worried dad. My wife found this tick in my daughter's ear yesterday and pulled it off with tweezers.

Here in Eastern PA, Deer ticks are somewhat common carriers of lyme disease while other ticks are not. Looking on the net, this looks to me like an adult female deer or dog tick.

Is there anyone here that is a tick expert and can tell whether it's a deer tick or not? Our vet and pediatrician was not able to.

I forgot to mention, it measured just under 1/4". Most people say that is too big for a deer tick, but then I see other info that they are usually talking about the nymph (more likely to transmit lyme disease)

Final(?) edit: the picture that made me think this looks like a deer tick was on www.tickencounter.org/tick_identification (adult female deer tick)
Thanks.

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[bluemoth]

It is a Dog tick - note the mottled area of cream and black just behind the ticks head. I have had both dog and dear ticks on me in my life time so know the difference quite well. Even Dog ticks can carry diseases we can catch but the deer tick is the major enemy of humans sense it caries Lime disease through out the hole USA. I never got any diseases from the dog ticks that bit me. Next time you or your family go out side in tick infested areas always put deet on every ware - shoos, pants, shirt sleeves, arms, neck, and hair. Ware light clothing to see ticks better and slip nee high socks over the opening of your pant legs at your ankles to prevent them from crawling up your lags. Wash off the deet when you get home. Deet is mildly toxic but I would rather deal with that then a tick disease.

[mike0]

Thanks so much for your help!