Comments on: How to Remove Ticks From Pets

on 9/16/2006 Get a Q-tip or other cotton swab. Put dish washing liquid on the tip. Rub this over the tick. It will back out as you rub and will stick to the swab.

on 8/8/2006 While many of these things are effective in getting a tick to let go, they tend to make the tick regurgitate before doing so. Since the pathogens ticks carry tend to reside in the gut, this is exactly what you don't want them to do! Ticks should only be removed by carefully pulling them straight out.

on 3/28/2006 Don't ever try to burn or put anything on a tick, nail polish this will only kill the ticks and make it a lot harder to remove. I'm in the Army, and I have had many ticks on me in my lifetime. The best way we do it is to use a alcohol swab and wipe it gently over it, this sometimes makes the ticks let go and it helps sterilize it. Then either use tweezers or a special tick removal tool to pull it out with between the head and your skin and then kill it.

P.S. Ticks breath only 3-5 times an hour, so even if you don't kill the tick and try to suffocate it, you will have to wait a while.

on 1/2/2006 Don't smother the tick with Vaseline, nail polish, mineral oil, or anything else. If the tick is smothered, it may regurgitate the blood mixed with its own toxins back into your pet which can, of course, increase the risk of disease. The tweezer method is best. Approach from the side, rather than the back, and be patient. Slower is better as you will be less likely to leave the head behind. If your dog is difficult, use a tissue, grab the tick at it's base and try not to pop the body. Clean the site, the tweezers, and your hands thoroughly with rubbing alcohol after you flush the tick. Flush or burn, don't just squish it as ticks are hard to kill and may survive. Good luck.

on 11/22/2005 If you don't have any nail polish to paint onto the tick, you can coat the tick with Vaseline. The tick can't breath, dies and can be easily removed.

on 11/22/2005 I saw on TV that a good thing to get rid of fleas and ticks (naturally) is to use lavender oil. Put some on the dog's bed as well. And for a natural flea collar you can lay their collar in a bowl of lavender oil, citrus oil and couple slices of lemon, and let it soak. Take it out and let it dry completely, then put it back on the dog. I haven't tried it yet myself, but thought I'd share it since I'm here looking for tips on getting rid of them in the house.

on 11/22/2005 We keep masking tape on hand for ticks once removed from the dog. It's wider and more tacky than Scotch tape, it can fold and kill the tick with ease. Oh yes, and cheap dog shampoo is the regular blue Dawn dishwashing liquid. It has the proper Ph balance for the dog's coat and also kills fleas immediately (should your dog have any). Lather is immediate and the smell is great!

on 11/22/2005 I went over to my grandmothers and she did it. She took a tissue and squeezed the skin around it. She just pulled it out and it didn't even hurt. I cleaned the spot with soap and water. Then I put peroxide and rubbing alcohol on it.

on 11/22/2005 I had a tick on me once - here's what not to do! Don't use heat, like matches or hot needles or cigarettes. I tried that, and the tick buried in deeper! Don't use Vaseline, kerosene, nail polish, or alcohol. All those things can irritate ticks, and then they spit, which is exactly what you want to avoid. Their spitting is sort of like injecting all their bacteria and stuff. The best way is to grasp the head as close to the skin as possible with tweezers, and pull gently and slowly. Don't twist, jerk, or go too fast. Clean off the area with alcohol and put the tick in a jar to kill it, but preserve it in case you or your pet gets sick.

on 11/22/2005 One word of advice - Never use the old remedy of applying heat (such as a match head or a cigarette) to a tick to get it to release. Researchers have found that ticks treated this manner will frequently spit up before they release, thereby transferring any pathogens they may be carrying into the host. The whole purpose of removing the tick is to prevent this from happening, so don't use heat under any circumstances. It's better to leave the tick where it is for a short while, until you can remove the tick properly.

on 11/22/2005 It may sound stupid but this is how I got rid of my "naughty's" ticks. Someone told me to put "kerosene oil" on every tick I find and roll over my oiled gloved hands over it.

on 11/22/2005 Drop ticks and fleas into a small container of bleach. It not only kills them but the bleach eats them and then just empty the container the next day.

on 11/22/2005 Dab Tick with cotton ball full of Rubbing Alcohol before attempting to remove. Makes them let go so you can get head and all at once. Don't know why, but it works!!!

on 11/22/2005 Want to know the best way to dispose of ticks? Scotch tape. Just put them on a piece and fold the other side of the tape on top of them. Then just toss them in the trash.

on 11/22/2005 When you remove a tick from your animal, bring the tick in a jar or plastic bag and submit it to your veterinarian. Some clinics send ticks off to be tested for Lyme disease.