How to Remove a Tick from Your Dog

Ticks can be found almost everywhere it seems. Woods, beaches, grass, forests – they aren’t picky. They are found in every state. Lyme disease, babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis are just a few of the major diseases ticks can plague animals and people with. Diseases can be transmitted from a bite in as little as 3 hours. It’s important that when a tick is found to remove it promptly and properly.

It’s often believed that ticks have a head. While they do have harpoon-like barbs for a mouth, they have a general body attached to them, along with crab-like legs. Whether it’s a tick that’s almost impossible to see or the size of your fingertip, a tick can do immense damage if not dealt with quickly.

The Removal Process

Fine-point tweezers, not the blunt-tipped ones that most of us have at home, should be used for removing ticks. Find the tick by spreading your dog’s fur then placing the tweezers on the tick as close as possible to your dog’s skin. Gently and slowly, pull the tick straight up to avoid tearing the tick.

If you live in a tick prominent area, it may be a good idea to invest in a tick removal hook, called a Tick Twister or a Tick Stick where the prong go on either side of the tick and you just twist upward. After removal, clean the site with rubbing alcohol. Wash your hands and the tweezers.

What NOT to Do

Don’t remove a tick with your fingers. You might squeeze the tick, injecting infectious material into your dog. You also might end up ripping the tick, leaving the tick’s mouth still attached to your dog making it even more difficult to remove.

Don’t rip the tick off quickly. This could also leave the tick’s mouth embedded in your dog’s skin.

Ticks can be a hassle to deal with, especially if your dog likes to go exploring constantly. It’s important to use flea and tick preventative year-round on your pup. Also, there are shampoos that kill ticks on contact. While this is beneficial, the ticks still need to be removed even after they are dead.