How to Safely Remove Dog Ticks

A dog in a grassy area can pick up ticks.

If you take your dog out in a grassy area, you must check it for ticks before you take it home. Ticks carry many diseases that can be harmful or even fatal to your dog, and knowing how to get rid of them is integral to your dog's health.

Things You'll Need

• Jar
• Rubbing alcohol
• Rubber gloves
• Tweezers
• Antibiotic ointment

Instructions

1. Fill a jar with about an inch of rubbing alcohol.

2. Put on a pair of rubber gloves. Ticks can carry diseases that are harmful to humans as well.

3. Grasp the tick with a pair of tweezers. Grab the tick as close to its head as you can.

4. Pull the tick away from the dog's skin. Pull gently, but but steadily. Do not be surprised if you see minuscule bits of skin pull away.

5. Drop the tick in the jar of rubbing alcohol and close the lid. This will kill the tick.

6. Inspect the bite again. If you still see the tick's head gripping the skin, pull it away using the tweezers. Get as much of the tick out of the dog's skin as possible.

7. Apply a small amount of dog-safe antibiotic ointment to your dog's bite. This will help prevent infection.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have seen one tick, check your dog's entire body thoroughly. There is a good chance that there are others.

References

• Pet Place: How to Remove and Prevent Ticks in Dogs
• Doctors Foster and Smith: How to Remove a Tick