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Ticks can transmit deadly diseases to a pet within 24 hours of breaking, so it’s important to know how to pull a tick off a dog to minimize disease exposure.
If you see ticks at your four-legged friend, you must act immediately, discover how you can safely and easily remove a tick from your dog.
Ticks are stubborn, blood-sucking parasites hanging around in long grass and woods, ready to hit your dog when he passes by.
infect thousands of animals and people with diseases such as Lyme disease, babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis, among other things every year.
Most tick-borne diseases are not transmitted immediately, so if you draw within 24 to 36 hours after your dog has been given a tick bite, it is unlikely that he will become infected.
Although removing a tick seems to be a natural process, you have probably heard some myths about remove ticks that can cause more damage to your pet, this post to know the best way to how to pull a tick off a dog safely.
Table Of Contents
Five Facts About Ticks
- Did you know that ticks are not insects? With their eight legs and Arachnida classification, they are more closely related to spiders.
- Only breed brood while feeding.
- Ticks can be found in almost every part of the world and can survive a wide range of climates.
- Ticks can’t really jump on your dog. They wait in grass or bushes and close themselves to a potential passing host.
- A female tick can lay up to 3,000 eggs, and for some species, the number is closer to 20,000.
Check For The Ticks On Your Dog
If you live in a country or travel to areas with a known number of ticks, your dog may be at risk.
Your dog may not even know it has become a blood meal for a hungry tick, so you must be vigilant.
Check your dog thoroughly after a walk
Regular tick checks are a must for dogs that walk in long grass and wooded areas.
When you return after your walk, spread your hands over your dog’s body to feel the (small lump) of an attached tick.
Pay special attention to your dog’s head and ears, the area under the collar and between the toes, armpits, and groin, because ticks often attach to these areas, but they can attach anywhere.
Use a hairdryer to find ticks in long-haired dogs
Ticks are easily hidden in long-haired animals or animals with thick fur. You may find it effective to use a hairdryer in the (cool) position to help you separate the coat and find the tick easier.
Beware of scratching and biting
Some dogs can get skin irritation, scratching and biting on their skin when a tick is attached, although dogs usually do not even notice that there is a tick, therefore you should check regularly your dog’s coat if you live in an area where ticks are common.
If a tick has managed to attach to your dog’s ear, they can also shake their heads more often to try to get rid of the tickle.
Use a torch to clean your dog’s ears. examine your dog for everything that hides there, but if you see a tick in the ear canal itself, contact your veterinarian for advice.
What You Need To Remove Ticks From Pets
Before you begin the actual removal process, these are the things you need to have on hand:
- Tweezers (pointed works best)
- Latex or rubber gloves
- Alcohol cleaning
- Antiseptic wipes (optional)
- Pot or container with lid
How To Pull A Tick Off A Dog Step By Step
Follow these steps to safely remove a tick from your dog:
1. Scan for ticks
Start moving your fingers slowly over your dog’s body. If you feel a bump or a swollen area, check if a tick is buried there.
Do not limit your search to your dog’s trunk: check the inside of their toes between their toes, under the armpits of their armpits and around their face and chin.
2. Safe Removal Ticks
If it runs on your dog, you can grab it with your fingers or use something like a paper towel if you don’t want to touch it. If it is attached, you must pull it off and ensure that you remove the heat from your dog’s skin.
There are several tick removers on the market that work well (our favorite is the
).For the best results, keep the tick remover where you can easily find it and read the instructions on the package.
If you do not have a character removal tool, tweezers are sufficient. Grab the head of the tick as close as possible to the skin of your dog and pull it out slowly with constant pressure.
Do not pull too fast, otherwise, you can leave the head of the tick behind so that your dog is still at risk of tick-borne diseases.
I always flush all the ticks that I come across to make sure they are out of my house and space.
You can also drown them or throw them in a closed container in the trash can (in case they aren’t really dead).
You can get satisfaction by burning them with a lighter; just don’t try to burn the tick while it is still on your dog!
You can also keep the tick in a sealed container to show to your vet for identification purposes or to test for Lyme disease.
3. Cleaning And Aftercare
Drop the tick in isopropyl alcohol and note the date on which you found the tick. If your pet starts showing signs of tick-borne disease, your veterinarian may want to identify or test it.
Wash your hands, clean your pet’s wound with antiseptic and clean your tweezers with isopropyl alcohol.
View the area where the tick was to see if an infection appears. If the skin remains irritated or infected, make an appointment with your veterinarian.
Watch your pet for symptoms of tick-borne illnesses. Some symptoms are arthritis or lameness that lasts for three to four days, reluctance to move, swollen joints, fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, loss of appetite, and neurological problems.
4. Use Tick Treatment On Your Dog As A Preventative Measure
To reduce the chance of tick removal from your dog, you must protect it with a regular tick treatment.
Some tick products (eg Tablets) are active in the bloodstream, which means that ticks must bite and feed your pet to be killed.
Other products, including some spot-on and some collars, can repel ticks, meaning that the tick does not have to bite the pet to be affected.
Seresto flea and tick control collar kills fleas and bumps and kills ticks for up to eight months.
The collar offers long-term protection against these annoying critters, to keep your dog healthy and happy.
5. Prevent Future Bites
If you or your companion animals spend some time outside, you should regularly check for ticks. Ticks are transferred between hosts, so it is important to check all family members after outdoor activities in wooded, green or grassy areas.
Comb your pet regularly with a flea comb, vacuum clean regularly and throw away the bags immediately after use, mow parts of the lawn where your dog spends time, wash weekly pet bedding and wash your pet with a pesticide-free shampoo for pets.
In addition, cats must be kept indoors at all times to protect cats against fleas and ticks, and against many other hazards in the open air.
Common Mistakes To Avoid When Removing Ticks From The Dog
1. Removing A Tick With Your Fingers
Ticks can transmit the disease to both people and your dog. They can carry Lyme disease, a serious infection that can be transmitted to both dogs and humans through an infected tick bite.
Always wear gloves when handling ticks and use a tick hook to remove the tick from your dog to prevent part of the tick from remaining in your dog’s skin.
2. Ticks Crushing
It can be tempting to crush a tick that you see on your dog, but there is a risk that it is part of the tick’s content in you can squeeze the dog’s bloodstream, and that’s all. This can increase the risk of disease transmission.
3. Choke A Tick With Nail Polish Or Vaseline
Do not attempt to remove a tick by choking or killing it with nail polish or Vaseline. These methods are not effective and can make it worse; the tick does not necessarily have to die, and the longer the tick is attached, the higher the risk of infection. They can also cause a skin reaction in your dog.
4. Burning A Tick To Remove It
Burning a tick is very dangerous for your dog and for you. The best way to remove a tick is with a tick hook.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are ticks harmful to people, especially children?
Yes. Just as ticks carry diseases that can be transmitted to dogs and can make them sick, they also carry Lyme disease that can make people sick.
The tick usually needs to be confirmed at least 12-24 hours before the disease is transmitted, so immediate removal as soon as the tick is detected should protect the child, but also inform the doctor about what happened.
What if my dog does not let me come near the tick to remove it?
Your dog may feel nervous or scared. He can also be in pain, especially where the tick is. Try to relax or distract your dog with a tasty treat, chew or toy, and use the Vaseline method.
You can also take it to the vet, where the vet can try to remove the tick or anesthetize your dog for removal/control.
Is My Dog In Danger Because Of Ticks After I Have Removed Them?
Dogs, humans and all other animals run the constant risk of being infected by fleas and ticks and being infected again once ticks are removed.
Dog owners must be constantly vigilant to ensure that any ticks on their animals are removed as quickly as possible.
Ticks can carry diseases that are fatal to humans and their faithful companions. If in doubt, take your friend to his or her vet.
