How To Remove A Tick From A Dog

Ticks are annoying and potentially dangerous parasites that can attach themselves to pups and feed off of their blood.

While not all ticks can cause dangerous diseases, they do all result in an exchanging of fluids between the host and the parasite, which is definitely not what you’d want! Thus, you’ll need to know how to remove a tick if you find one on your pup.

You can easily grasp a tick that is attached and feeding with a pair of small forceps. While feeding, ticks are not mobile, so just grab it as close as you can get to your pup’s skin and pull. Don’t pull in a particular sideways direction – just do so straight and upwards without any fuss. Make sure you don’t squeeze as this may cause more transmission, and ensure that you get all of the tick out. You can also use tick extractors, which wrap around the parasite’s mouth.

After you’ve removed the tick, place it inside a bottle that has flea and tick spray or rubbing alcohol. Record the date of removal, then wash your hands thoroughly to rid yourself of any possible infection. Now, use a mild disinfectant at the spot on your pup’s skin where the tick was, and if some parts of the tick’s mouth remain, then apply a topical antibiotic ointment.

Monitor your pup for signs of inflammation, joint swelling or discomfort, swollen lymph nodes, lack of appetite, listlessness, or fever. If your dog exhibits these symptoms, then take them to a vet immediately.

Of course, it’s much more effective to prevent ticks than remove them. You can use products that repel ticks, although there is no way to guarantee they won’t find a way to get to your pup anyway. Talk to your vet about options, and don’t forget to like and share!