Common on dogs that resemble a crab, have about 20 short legs, create a small bump and they burrow just under the surface skin

Tick?

Depending on the size of the "bug," it could be a tick or one of the various mites. Is it visible to the naked eye?

With 20 legs it isn't a tick or a mite. Ticks and mites are arachnids with 8 legs.

Pseudoscorpions. Maybe?

Pseudoscorpions. Maybe?

That is an arachnid too. Poster noted "about. 20 short legs".

Centipedes and Millipedes have that many legs and a Sow Bug has a bunch of legs

With 20 legs it isn't
common on dogs

common on dogs
My point was that the suggested items, ticks, mites and pseudo scorpions are arachnids and don't have 20 legs as originally noted by ,OP.

I do agree with ma, ticks don't have 20 legs. But then, remember that the poster said this bug burrowed under the skin. Has he/she actually seen the bug, and counted the legs? Doubtful.

A crab like bug that is common on dogs, sounds like a tick to me. Fleas wouldn't be easily visible, and no way they OP could count a fleas legs. Also, ticks don't burrow. Ticks can be rather big, especially after feasting for a while.

Only thing is, ticks don't burrow under the skin.

Does anyone know of a 20 legged bug that burrows under the dogs skin and lives in Arizona? If such a creature exists, surely it wouldn't be hard to find, Especially for Catsmine, who's a bug expert.

Long story short, I think we need a picture of this 20 legged dog burrowing bug.

Okay, I've seen my share of ticks. While they may not have 20 legs, they sure as heck LOOK like they do!

Okay, I've seen my share of ticks. While they may not have 20 legs, they sure as heck LOOK like they do!

LOL! I know! I feel the same way. I squish them before I take the time to count legs, and once they're squished, it's impossible to tell what's what, so counting the legs, not possible. But yes, I agree, they look like they have at least 20 legs when you see them, and fangs, and an evil grin while they're sucking the blood out of your dog.

Sadly, that's our perspective, and not reality.

Evil bugs!

The ONLY "bug" with just 20 legs is a freshly hatched millipede. As they add body segments, they get MORE legs. They don't infest dogs. Therefore the "about 20 legs" in the OP is a misperception. A tick bite will raise a bump, as will the head if the body of the tick is pulled off. Several other species of mites DO burrow under the skin, including scabies and mange mites.