Sunburns and ticks are the worst parts of the warmer seasons. Spending afternoons removing ticks from your dog is no way to enjoy summer! Preventative methods are the best ways to avoid ticks.
But after a nature walk, you might still find an occasional bloodsucking hitchhiker on your pooch. Do you know how to remove ticks from dogs? Keep reading to find out!
Knowing how to remove ticks from a dog can save a life!
1. Gather Your Materials
Before you remove ticks from your dog, you need to get your tick removal station ready. Wearing the right protection and using proper antiseptic materials keep you and your dog safe.
You will need:
- Rubber or latex gloves to protect yourself
- Tick removal tool or tweezers
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Antiseptic or antibiotic ointment
- Small container
2. How to Remove Ticks from A Dog
Before removing the tick from your dog, make sure they are calm. You may need someone to help hold your pup or feed them treats to keep them distracted. Our CBD Peanut Butter is an excellent treat to keep your dog occupied during tick removal!
- With gloved hands, gently part your dog’s hair to expose the tick. You can lightly dampen your dog’s hair to help it lay flat and stay parted.
- If using tweezers: Grab the tick as close to its head and as close to your dog’s skin without pinching them. Don’t squeeze too hard, as you don’t want to crush the tick or force it to regurgitate its stomach contents back into the bite. Slowly and steadily pull the tick out in one smooth motion.
- If using a tick removal tool: Gently slide the tool underneath the tick, hooking its body into the notch of the tool. Rotate the tool in one direction until the tick detaches itself. Do not pull on the tick while rotating.
- After you remove the tick from your dog, examine the tick and the bite wound to make sure the tick is still intact. Take your dog to the vet to remove the tick head if you can’t easily remove it yourself.
3. Dispose of the Tick
Now that you have removed the tick from your dog, you can place it in a small container with isopropyl alcohol. The alcohol will kill and preserve the tick to take to your vet.
You can also tape the tick to a piece of paper. This will dry the tick out so you can take it to your vet to identify it.
4. Clean the Site
Once you dispose of the tick, clean the bite with soap and water. You can apply animal safe antibiotic ointment or antiseptic as extra precaution.
Keep an eye on the bite wound. If it looks swollen, inflamed, or if your dog shows any signs of illness, call your vet.
5. Check for More Ticks
Check your dog thoroughly for any other ticks that may hide in its fur.
Ticks like to burrow:
- On feet and in between toes
- Inside ears
- Around the neck
- In armpits and under legs
- Around the face
Don’t Let Ticks Slow You Down!
When enjoying the outdoors with your dog, ticks come with the territory, but they shouldn’t prevent you from letting your dog explore. Year-round tick prevention minimizes your run-ins with ticks.
Preventative medication is the best way to protect your furry friend!
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