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Removing ticks from your dog may not be pleasant, but it’s important to do it promptly and correctly. Once you know how to remove a tick, it will be a fairly easy process.
Because they can carry infectious organisms, ticks infect thousands of animals and people with illnesses like Lyme disease, babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis every year. Pathogen transmission can occur as quickly as three to six hours after a bite occurs, so the sooner you remove the tick, the less chance there is that your dog will get sick.
A tick has a one-piece body. The harpoon-like barbs of its mouth attach to a host for feeding. Crablike legs and a sticky secretion help hold the tick to the host. Ticks range in size from almost impossible to see with the naked eye, to ones the size of a human fingertip. The United States has about 200 tick species. They can survive—and thrive—in woods, beach grass, lawns, forests, and even urban areas. Ticks also aren’t picky eaters; they feed on mammals, birds, and even other insects.
Removing a Tick From Your Dog
Using fine-point tweezers is the most effective way to remove a tick from a dog safely. The following should be done to reduce the risk of infection or leaving parts of the tick behind:
- Spread your dog’s fur to clearly expose the tick
- Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible using fine-point tweezers
- Pull straight upward in a slow, steady motion
- Avoid twisting or jerking, which can cause the mouthparts to break off in the skin
Most household tweezers have blunt tips, which can tear the tick and increase the risk of infection. Fine-point tweezers allow for a more precise grip and cleaner removal.
Ticks do not have “heads” in the traditional sense. What may remain embedded in the skin are the tick’s mouthparts, which is why steady, controlled removal is important.
Another option is a tick removal hook, which can be easier for some pet owners to use. Tools like Tick Tornado or Tick Take are designed to slide under the tick and remove it by gently twisting upward. This method is especially useful in areas where dogs are frequently exposed to ticks.
Never remove a tick with your fingers—it’s not only ineffective, but the squeezing may also further inject infectious material.
After you’ve removed the tick, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly, clean the bite site with rubbing alcohol, and rinse the tweezers or tool with disinfectant.
This article is intended solely as general guidance, and does not constitute health or other professional advice. Individual situations and applicable laws vary by jurisdiction, and you are encouraged to obtain appropriate advice from qualified professionals in the applicable jurisdictions. We make no representations or warranties concerning any course of action taken by any person following or otherwise using the information offered or provided in this article, including any such information associated with and provided in connection with third-party products, and we will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages that may result, including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death.