How to Find a Tick
Spending time outdoors with your dog does mean exposure to ticks. More than just a nuisance, ticks can harbor diseases and make your dog, and you,, very sick. This is why it's important after each outdoor adventure with your pooch to take the time to immediately inspect for ticks. The earlier the tick is removed the less time it has to transmit disease. However, you first have to find them, which can be difficult on dogs, especially the long-haired breeds and those that have a black/dark coat.
Instructions
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Use dog treats to keep your dog still for inspection. To thoroughly inspect your dog will take time. Giving it treats for sitting or laying down will help.
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2
Put on latex gloves. Ticks carry diseases that both humans and dogs can get. Latex gloves will help prevent disease transmission.
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3
Comb your dog completely. Ticks that have yet to attach will come off in a comb or brush.
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Inspect your dog beginning at its head and working your way down its body to its tail. This way you are less likely to miss a spot.
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Inspect your dog after combing by looking and feeling for them with your hands at the skin's surface. Look and feel for small red bumps or large fluid-filled bumps. When recently attached, a tick may be hard to see and may only cause a red bump. As the tick becomes engorged with blood, it will become large, round and easy to identify.
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Check your dog's "armpits" closely as well as around its toes, ears and tail. Ticks tend to attach to these warm, hidden areas.
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Place any ticks you find in a glass of pure rubbing alcohol to kill them.
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Tips & Warnings
Remove ticks by grabbing the head with tweezers and slowly twisting the tick while pulling to make the tick let go. Try not to squeeze hard enough to kill the tick while attached to your dog, as this can help spread diseases.
Contact your veterinarian if you cannot remove all of the tick or your dog shows signs of infection or illness in the days following the tick bite.
