How to Remove Ticks From Your Dog
Ticks are an external parasite that attach themselves to pets, often while they are outside. They can spread various blood-borne pathogens and illnesses and contribute to other health problems in animals, such as anemia. Though there are several digestible and topical agents that can repel ticks; knowing how to identify and remove ticks quickly and efficiently from your dog can reduce several health risks.
Instructions
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Check your dog for ticks first by visually examining it, including looking at the face, ears, legs, tail, chest and stomach. Also examine by feel--run your hands along your dog's body and search for small, upraised and smooth lumps. This may take some time if your dog is long-coated or prone to wriggling.
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Identify the location of a tick, but do not squeeze or crush it.
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Place the ends of the tweezers delicately around the head, not the body, of the tick. The head is the point of attachment closest to the dog's body. The point of your tweezers should connect to the part of the tick closest to the dog's skin--without actually gripping any of your pet's skin.
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Pull slowly but firmly, without twisting or jerking. Twisting or jerking might dislocate the body but not the head, which could lead to infection.
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Place the tick in a small jar filled with alcohol to kill it. Veterinarians do not recommend flushing ticks down the toilet or tossing them into the trash, because they can survive and attach themselves to humans.
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Clean the bite area with disinfectant and antibiotic ointment.
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Wash your hands after removing ticks.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not use lighters or petroleum jelly to remove ticks; these treatments are ineffective and potentially dangerous.
References
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
