How to Remove Dog Ticks

You’ve noticed that your furry friend has ticks. What should you do now? Dog ticks carry diseases like Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis. Their bites can also lead to skin infections. These harmful creatures need to be removed, and you have the tools to do so! With a pair of tweezers, disinfectant, and a little courage, you can easily remove the ticks from your dog. Your four-legged companion will be forever grateful!

Know how to spot ticks and their preferred environments. Ticks love tall grasses and low bushes. Some dog ticks are very small—almost the size of fleas—while others are much larger. Dog ticks are typically black or brown and have an oval-shaped body. Like spiders and scorpions, they belong to the arachnid group of arthropods and have 8 legs.

Prepare the necessary tools before searching for ticks. You will need a pair of fine-tipped tweezers and a bottle of alcohol. You will also need some disinfectant such as chlorhexidine (Nolvasan) or povidone iodine solution (Betadine) to clean the wound after removing the tick from your dog.

• If you live in an area where ticks are common, you may want to buy a tool designed specifically for tick removal. This tool resembles a spoon with a V-shaped groove and is very effective in removing ticks from both pets and humans.
• Contrary to common belief, you cannot kill a tick by flushing it down the toilet. The only appropriate way to eliminate ticks is to drop them in alcohol or use a tick and flea spray to kill them.

Ensure your dog is comfortable and calm. Removing ticks is never enjoyable for your dog. Before you start, give your dog a toy and some of their favorite treats (along with love and affection) to keep them relaxed and happy.

Search for ticks on your dog. You should check your dog's fur every time they return from places known to have ticks (such as during a hike, in areas with tall grass, etc.). You might feel small bumps and notice dark round spots. Start by checking your dog’s back, then move to the sides of the chest and belly. Be sure to inspect these areas:

• Legs
• Between the toes and paw pads
• Under the legs (armpits), belly, chest, and tail
• On, around, and under both ears
• Face and top of the head
• Chin
• Front of the neck

Use a comb for dogs with thick or curly coats. If it’s difficult to search through your dog’s thick fur, you may need to use a fine-toothed comb to help search for ticks. If this doesn’t help, you can use a hairdryer on the cool setting to part the fur. However, be aware that some dogs are afraid of hairdryers.

• These tools should only assist your hands when searching for ticks, as the best method remains using your fingers to feel for them.

Bathe your dog in tick and flea shampoo or medicated water. These products may not be safe for very young puppies, so be sure to read and follow the instructions carefully. Remember, these chemicals kill ticks, making them easier to remove, so avoid using them on very young pups. Instead, remove ticks manually to ensure safety.

• DO NOT use this product on cats unless the label specifically states that it is safe for them.

Section off areas of your dog’s fur when searching for ticks. You need to part the dog’s fur while looking for ticks to ensure you don’t miss any. If you do miss an area, simply check it again. A tick will remain stationary while feeding, as it embeds its head into the dog’s skin.

Use tick and flea spray. Be sure to follow the instructions on the spray bottle and allow the chemicals time to work. Do not overapply. You don’t want to risk poisoning your pet. The chemicals will encourage ticks to leave the bite and fall off, or at the very least, make it easier for you to manually remove them.

• Like bath oils, many tick sprays should be avoided for young puppies. Always read and follow the instructions carefully.
• Some of the most effective sprays contain “fipronil.” This ingredient will kill ticks, but not immediately. If you wait 24 hours after applying the spray, the ticks will fall off or will be easier to remove with tweezers.

Use tweezers to remove the tick. Grasp the tick at its head and mouth, where it is attached to the dog's skin. It is crucial that you grab the tick’s head rather than its body. If you grab the body, it could break off, leaving the head embedded in the skin, which can cause irritation and infection.

• Act quickly when pulling out the tick. A swift motion prevents the tick from clinging more tightly or releasing saliva into the dog’s blood. You may also use a specially designed tool to reach as close to the dog’s skin as possible.
• Do not use your fingers to remove the tick. Using your fingers can crush the tick and increase the risk of transmitting disease to your pet. Use a proper tick removal tool or tweezers carefully.
• If the tick body breaks off, a veterinarian will need to check for the remaining parts of the tick embedded in the dog’s skin to determine if they need to be removed.

Place the tick in a jar of alcohol. Ensure that the tick is completely submerged in alcohol and cannot crawl out of the jar. It may take several hours for the tick to die in the alcohol.

Repeat the steps above to remove any remaining ticks. Keep in mind that depending on the environment your dog has been in, there may be multiple ticks on its body. Therefore, make sure to thoroughly and carefully search for each tick and remove them one by one.

Apply disinfectant to the tick bite area. To prevent infection, you can apply an antibiotic ointment to the area where the tick was attached. Dermatologists often recommend using chlorhexidine or a diluted povidone iodine solution with water. Be sure to follow the instructions for the correct concentration when diluting the solution.

Dispose of the ticks. After removing all ticks from your dog, ensure the jar containing the ticks is tightly sealed. Secure the lid and wait for about a day. Once you’re sure the ticks have died, you can safely dispose of them in the trash.

Take your dog to the vet for a checkup for diseases or infections. Dog ticks can carry various pathogens, particularly Lyme disease. After removing the ticks, it's important to take your dog for a checkup to ensure your pet hasn't contracted any diseases.

• It may be helpful to keep a few ticks and bring them to the vet. Identifying the type of tick can assist the vet in assessing the risk of disease transmission more accurately.

Regularly check your pet for ticks. Every time you take your dog for a walk or let them play in areas with tall grass that may harbor ticks, you should inspect your dog for any ticks that may have attached.

• Depending on the region, different types of ticks may appear in various seasons. You can find more information online or consult your veterinarian.

Make your pet and home an unfriendly environment for ticks. Prevention is the most effective way to protect your dog from ticks. You can use safe and effective products for tick and flea control. Options include topical treatments, oral medications, and collars designed to control ticks. Be sure to consult your veterinarian before introducing any new products. Ways to prevent ticks on your dog and in your home include:

• Keep grass and weeds trimmed to ankle height.
• Seal trash bins tightly, clean up piles of debris, and clear overgrown areas. This helps prevent rodents that may carry ticks.
• Stick to trails when walking your dog, keeping them close. Avoid areas with dense trees and tall grass, as these are common habitats for ticks. If your dog ventures off the trail (as they often do), remember to check them thoroughly when you return home.