How To Remove A Tick From Your Dog

They’re more than an irritant – these little bloodsuckers can mean big trouble for you and your pooch. Here’s how to remove a tick from a dog.

Ticks are tiny external parasites that feed on the blood of dogs and other animals – they can even latch on to a human. There are several different species of ticks which can affect dogs and all of them have the potential to transmit deadly diseases to your pet. You should take the time to learn how to protect your dog from ticks, as well as educate yourself on how to remove a tick from a dog.

How do Ticks Affect Dogs?

Technically ticks are not a type of insect – they are a type of arachnid and there are a number of species which commonly affect dogs. The most common species of ticks known to affect dogs are the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) and the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus). Ticks tend to live in brushy areas of undergrowth, particularly tall grass, and they can easily climb onto your dog’s legs as he plays outside. These tiny creatures can be found anywhere on the dog’s body but they tend to prefer the area around the head, neck, and ears.

Though they may be small, ticks are visible so it is a good idea for you to check your dog after spending any time outside, particularly during the summer and fall months. Even once your dog has been bitten by a tick it can take a few hours for the tick to transmit disease, so if you find and remove the tick quickly your dog will probably be okay. To ensure that your dog is protected from tick-transmitted diseases, however, you should administer a monthly topical flea and tick preventive. These products not only help to protect your dog from diseases transmitted by ticks but they kill the adult and developing forms of the parasite.

Steps on How to Remove a Tick from a Dog

In addition to transmitting diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ticks can also cause blood loss and anemia, especially in young dogs. If you find a tick on your dog’s body, you need to remove it immediately by following the steps below:

1. Put on a pair of rubber or latex gloves to protect yourself – contact with the tick’s blood could potentially expose you to Lyme disease.
2. Treat the area with rubbing alcohol to disinfect it.
3. Use a pair of tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
4. Pull the tick swiftly upward and away from the body, removing the head and mouthparts as well as the body.
5. If the mouthparts are left behind, do not try to remove them – this could cause more irritation – just treat the area with a disinfectant.
6. Disinfect the site of the bite again and dispose of the tick by placing it in a small jar with some rubbing alcohol to kill it.

After removing a tick from your dog’s skin – especially if the mouthparts are left behind – you should monitor your dog for several days. Check the site of the bite several times a day for inflammation and irritation. If the area swells and doesn’t appear to be improving, you may want to take your dog to the vet for a check-up.

Feel free to contribute your own ways of how to remove a tick from a dog in the comment section below – we’d love to hear your ideas!