Tips to Safely Remove a Tick from Your Dog
Removing a tick safely from your canine’s body can be a daunting process without proper knowledge and tricks. But once you know how to do it the right way, it will surely become an easy-peasy process for you. So, next time you see a tick on your furball, keep calm and follow the information given in this blog to remove it safely and effectively.
Before jumping on to tick removal, let’s first understand where you can spot ticks, the diseases that ticks transmit, and their symptoms.
Places where ticks can be spotted on your dog
Before removing a tick, it is essential to spot them. Mentioned below are the most common areas where ticks can be spotted:
- Around the tail
- Around the neck
- Inside and outside ears
- On and between each toe
- Under the collar
- Eyelids
- Armpits
- Groin
Tools for tick removal
Using a few tick-removal tools will make the process simpler and more effective:
- Rubber Gloves
- Tick Removal Tool or Tweezers
- Isopropyl Alcohol
- Jar or Sealed Container
- Disinfectant or Antiseptic Cream
Simple steps to remove a tick
Here are simple steps to remove a tick from your dog:
1. Wear Gloves
Wear rubber or latex gloves to ensure that there is a protective layer between you and the tick as tick bites can be harmful to humans too. Wearing gloves will also give you a strong grip for removing the tick.
2. Rub a disinfectant or alcohol
Rubbing alcohol or any pet-safe disinfectant before pulling off the tick can act as a disinfectant, irritate the tick, and make it lose its grip a bit. Do not use alcohol on sensitive areas like near the eyes or nose.
3. Use tweezers or a tick-removal tool
Using a tick removal tool or tweezers can help remove the tick easily. Ensure you pull the tick’s head and not the body as it can lead to infections if the head of the tick remains attached to the dog’s body. Once you hold the tick’s head firmly, pull it in an upward direction without twisting. Use products like Tick Twister for easy removal.
4. Clean pet’s skin
Clean your pet’s skin after removing the tick by disinfecting the area with alcohol and applying a pet-friendly antiseptic to reduce the risk of infection. You may see a little swelling around the affected area which will go away in some time. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after completing the process.
5. Store the tick
After removing the tick, store it in a jar or a container with a lid instead of killing it as you may need it for identification purposes if your dog gets a tick-borne infection shortly after removing the tick. Keep an eye on your pet for any symptoms after removing the tick and consult the vet in case of any problem.
6. Prevent Future infestations
It is crucial to protect your pet from future tick infestations. After tick removal, check your dog regularly and practice tick prevention for enhanced protection. Consider vaccinating your dog against various tick-borne diseases, and use dog flea and tick collars, topicals, or oral tick treatments for added protection.
Symptoms of tick-borne diseases
Once, you’ve removed the tick successfully, look for symptoms of tick-borne diseases which are mentioned here:
- Reluctant to walk due to joint pain
- Lethargy
- Skin rashes
- Decrease in appetite
- Fever
- Inflammation near the tick bite
Consult the vet in case you notice any of these symptoms.
Bottom Line
Keeping your four-legged companion protected from ticks and the diseases they transmit should be your one of the key objectives. By following the tick removal procedure we have mentioned in the blog, you can easily remove the tick off your dog and keep your canine companion protected from tick-induced health issues.