How to Remove a Tick From a Dog?

Finding a tick on your dog is stressful for owners, especially for first-time owners. It can cause them to feel guilt and gross them out at the same time. But finding a tick on your pet isn’t as scary as the media has led us to believe, and they are common, especially in outdoor dogs.

The good news is that knowing how to remove a tick from a dog is easy. Tick removal can be done at home if you know the right steps. In this guide, we will teach you how to safely remove a tick from your dog, how to prevent them in the future and when to seek a vet.

We’ll focus on the types of products used and which tools make tick removal easier. By the end, you’ll feel a lot more prepared in dealing with ticks.

What Ticks Are and Why You Should Remove Them

Ticks, like fleas, are wingless parasites that seek hosts and feed on their blood. They latch on to dogs and other animals and feed from a few hours to a few days, if they aren’t removed.

But that’s not the worst part. In certain regions, some ticks carry diseases such as Lyme disease, babesiosis, Ehrlichia, and anaplasmosis. These are dangerous not only for your dog, but also to you, since they are zoonoses and are becoming more and more important in the field of public health.

To minimize the chance of your pet getting infected by a tick, vets recommend removing them as soon as possible. It’s a rule of thumb that if they are removed within 24 hours, the chance of infections is minimal.

By checking your dog after being outdoors and removing ticks quickly and properly, you both protect your pet and offer yourself comfort knowing the ticks aren’t in your house.

How Ticks Get on Dogs

Unlike fleas or mosquitoes, ticks can’t jump or fly. So, how do ticks get on a dog?

Ticks live in places with wooded areas where there’s tall grass, such as overgrown yards or parks. When your dog passes, the ticks grab onto their fur and start roaming their body to find a place to attach and feed.

This can happen both in the dog park or while hiking in a forest, but that’s not the only way ticks find a host. Sometimes, ticks can be passed from contact with another dog (or animal), though this is much rarer.

When coming back from outside, especially if your dog was in contact with another animal, you must check their body for ticks. The more your dog is exposed to the outdoors and other animals, the higher the chance of them getting a tick.

The Safest Tools for Removing a Tick

You might be wondering how to get a tick off a dog properly. In this section of the article, we will teach you how to do exactly that and what you need. Let’s start with the necessities - Tools.

Recommended Tick Removal Tools

Many pet shops and vet clinics sell special tools called tick hooks or tweezers. They are designed to remove ticks without squeezing their bodies.

Hooks work by sliding underneath the tick and lifting it from the dog's skin. They are ideal for pets that have thicker coats. On the other hand, tweezers can get the job done, but they need more precision.

When removing a tick with tweezers, it’s important to grab the part of the tick closest to the skin, not the body, and pull it in a straight line, without rotating it.

Other tools, which aren’t as common, are cards and pliers. They are easier to carry around, especially during hikes, and to use on the go.

What Not to Use

Many pet owners try using homemade remedies they’ve read on the internet to remove a tick, but these can make things worse.

A study done by Glen R. Needham determined that ineffective household items like jelly, nail polish, rubbing alcohol, and others can cause the tick to vomit (the scientific term is regurgitate) their saliva and parts of the blood meal into your dog's skin, which is the place where possible pathogens live. It increases the chance of infecting your dog with a disease.

Using your fingers also isn’t recommended, especially if the tick's body isn’t swollen. Squeezing the body of the tick to remove it can cause bacteria in the tick to enter the bite site. 

Step-By-Step: How to Remove a Tick From Your Dog

1. Prepare

Before removing a tick, make sure that you are calm. Dogs feed off the energy of their owner, so if you’re nervous, they will also become nervous.

Get some treats and put your dog in an area that is well-lit. If the dog becomes squirmish, ask someone to help by holding them. Reward their good behavior with the treats. Handling a dog when they’re nervous helps them calm down.

2. Locate the Tick

It’s important to know how to properly spot a tick. Start by parting your dog's fur in places that are warm and dense. These areas include the ears, neck (especially the collar area), the armpits, groin, belly, and between their paw pads and running your fingers through their skin. Ticks feel like small bumps under the fingers.

3. Remove the Tick (Step-By-Step)

According to the CDC, the best way to remove the tick properly lies in placing the tick-removal tool as close to your pet's skin, gripping the tick in its mouth area. When you get a decent hold, pull the tick in a straight line, in a slow manner, without jerking or twisting your hand.

By removing the tick in a straight line, it evens the pressure and reduces the chance of the body and mouthpiece breaking off.

4. Confirm Full Removal

After the tick is removed, check to see if it's in one piece. If the head isn’t detached, it will move the mouthpiece alongside their legs.

But, if the mouthpiece breaks and is left in the skin, don’ t try to pull it out, as it can inflame the skin and even cause an infection. In most cases, the broken pieces will come out of the skin naturally. If the area ends up getting inflamed, which is a possibility, call your vet.

5. Clean the Area

Now that the tick is out, wash the area either with soap and water or use some sort of petsafe antiseptic wipe. This lowers the chance of your pet getting a secondary infection.

6. Dispose of the Tick Safely

The last step is to dispose of the tick. Don’t do this by crushing. Instead, opt for placing them in some object filled with rubbing alcohol and then throw it. In regions where there is a high prevalence of tick-borne diseases, some vets recommend saving the ticks and bringing it to them in case the dog develops symptoms.

What to Do Next

Now that the tick isn’t attached, the hardest part is behind you. But what to do next?

Monitor Your Dog

After removing the tick, it’s recommended to watch your pet over the next few days in case they develop any signs of an illness or infection at the bite site. Check their skin for signs of redness, swelling, as well as behavioral changes like fever, lethargy, or changes in appetite.

In most cases, the dog ends up being perfectly fine, but monitoring is a smart step in taking care of their well-being.

When to Call a Vet

If you notice any unusual symptoms, it’s always a good idea to visit your veterinary clinic. Early intervention makes treatment of possible pathogens easier and more effective.

In cases where the tick's head is still embedded in their skin, it’s a good idea to seek vet advice. This applied especially in elderly dogs, puppies, or in cases of mass tick infestations, where removal is harder.

How to Prevent Ticks on Dogs

Prevention is always better than dealing with an infestation. It reduces stress for both you and your pets.

When preventing ticks in dogs, it’s important to have a combined regimen. That means that you need to invest in some sort of treatment, like a collar or tag, and control the environment. Many vets recommend investing in natural-based products, such as FurLife™ - 12 Months All Natural Flea and Tick Tags for Dogs or FurLife™ - 8 Months All Natural Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs. These products offer longevity, protection, and peace of mind.

Combining them by keeping your yard tidy (if you have one) and checking your dog after outdoor activities makes ticks a rare occurrence. Some owners even use sprays after walking, like FurLife™ - All Natural Flea & Tick Spray for Dogs and Cats, or special shampoos such as FurLife™ - Flea & Tick Shampoo for Dogs as catalysts in their prevention plan.

Ticks are seasonal, but as winters have become milder in recent years, tick season has become longer. It’s best to always have a year-round prevention plan.

Common Myths About Tick Removal

There are many myths among dog owners regarding the proper way to remove a tick. Most of these myths are both outdated and wrong. This is why it’s so important to consult a veterinarian when dealing with a tick for the first time.

We’ve made a table where we debunk the most common myths and what they could cause in your pet instead:

Quick Checklist

Now that we know the dos and don’ts of how to get a tick off a dog, we’ve made a quick checklist to have in hand when dealing with a tick. Feel free to copy and paste it into your notes app to always have it in hand.

Tick removal checklist:

• Have your tools ready

• Make sure that both you and your dog are calm

• Remove the tick quickly and promptly

• Clean the place where it had latched on

• Dispose of the tick

• Check your dog over the next few hours and see if they develop symptoms of tick-borne diseases

• Visit or call your vet if necessary

Conclusion

It’s always a challenge the first time to remove a tick. It can feel overwhelming, and sometimes it even makes some pet owners feel grossed out. But knowing how to remove a tick from a dog as early as possible makes it easier for you and your furry friend.

By having the right tools and knowledge, tick removal turns into another step of your pet's routine. But, it’s best to prevent ticks rather than deal with an infestation - By using products such as Furlifes and doing routine checks, you might never need to remove a tick again.

So start your prevention plan today and order from Furlife!