Dog Ticks and How To Remove Them

Your dog can catch a tick if he or she spends a lot of time outdoors. Ticks can latch onto your dog quickly, especially in an area that is well known for having ticks, and areas with many wooded places and lots of grass.

However, if your dog does get a tick, you can get it off yourself if you follow the steps ahead.

How Do I Check For Dog Ticks?

You should always check your dog periodically to see if they have ticks. To do this, feel your dog all over by running your hands slowly through their fur. A tick can be black, brown or reddish, yet are very small. They will attach themselves underneath the skin of your does and then swell up to the size of a grape. A tick that has done so will hang off your dog, and you will be able to feel it easily enough, as well as see the protrusion.

How Do I Remove Dog Ticks?

To get rid of the tick, first put on latex gloves. Enable the help of a friend or family member to keep the dog still. Using a pair of tweezers, grasp the protruding tick as close to the skin of the dog as you can. Try your best not to get the skin of your dog caught, however. Using a steady motion, pull the tick off your dog carefully. Once it is off, you will want to kill it. To do so, smash it with your foot (wearing a shoe) or drown it down the toilet. Do NOT touch it.

What Do I Do After The Dog Tick Is Removed?

After the tick is disposed of, apply antibiotic ointment to your dog’s skin. Remove your gloves, and wash your hands thoroughly. You will want to either clean the tweezers with isopropyl alcohol or get rid of them completely.

As a precaution, you may want to have your dog checked by your veterinarian.