How to Remove a Dog Tick

Dog ticks are very common on household pets. Ticks are acquired by your pet from its surroundings and ticks are especially common in the summer months. Ticks are parasites that suck blood from your pet. They have to be removed at all costs so that your pet won’t have to suffer the health issues that these organisms can cause. While you might think that there are magic tricks to remove ticks from your pet, it is better to follow these directions.

Just follow the steps below and your dog will be tick-free in no time.

1. Stun or immobilize the tick.

Ticks have little teeth that are curved backwards. When they bite into your pet, those teeth dig deep into the surface, making them difficult to extract. In order for you to successfully take the ticks out, you have to first immobilize, stun, or make them dizzy. Be sure to put surgical gloves as you perform this step. Alcohol is the best tick stunner. Just spray a small amount on the parasite and it will let go of its hold.

2. Take the ticks out.

Once the tick loses its grip, be sure to take it out carefully. You don’t want to burst the tick’s body because its blood is poisonous. If it gets into the open would of your dog, the result can be a skin infection. It is okay to use a tweezers for this job, but you have to be extra careful. It is still better to use your fingers in removing the stunned tick. Just pick them up after spraying alcohol and you should be able to remove the easily. Again, don’t do this step without a protective cover on your hands.

3. Put the ticks removed in a small container with alcohol.

After successfully removing the ticks, put them all together in a small jar half-filled with alcohol. This will kill them eventually. Put all the ticks you took out from your dog in the jar and then flush them all in the toilet after removing every one of them from your dog. Dispose of the ticks properly so that they won’t come back infesting your pet again. If the vet requests for a sample of the tick, try to leave one tick immersed in alcohol and take it to the clinic right away.

4. Disinfect the areas where the ticks are extracted.

The tick will leave small wounds on the skin of your dog. So after removing them, it is best that you apply an antiseptic on the dog’s skin to prevent further infections. Betadine works well. The more ticks you remove, the more open wounds your dog has. Be sure to take care of your pet accordingly. The small wounds will heal quickly.

These are the proper ways of removing dog tick from your pet. Other methods such as the use of smoke, expensive mineral oils, or kerosene don’t really help. Those methods are deemed either ineffective or may even be harmful to your pet.