I found a tick on my dog - what's the right way to remove it?
Answered by our veterinary team
Finding a tick on your dog is common, especially after outdoor time in grass or wooded areas. Here's the correct removal process:
What you'll need
Fine-tipped tweezers or a purpose-made tick removal tool (tick hooks work very well and are inexpensive).
How to remove it
1. Part your dog's fur and locate the tick's head (where it's attached to the skin) 2. Grasp the tick as close to the skin surface as possible - not the body 3. Pull upward with steady, even pressure without twisting or jerking 4. The goal is to remove the tick intact, including the mouthparts
What to do after removal
- Clean the bite area with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and water - Dispose of the tick by placing it in alcohol, sealing it in a bag, or flushing it - Note the date of removal
What NOT to do
Never twist the tick (increases risk of mouthparts breaking off), never use Vaseline, nail polish, or a lit match to 'suffocate' the tick - these methods cause the tick to regurgitate saliva into the wound, increasing disease transmission risk.
Follow-up monitoring
Watch for symptoms of tick-borne illness - fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, joint swelling, or limping - for 2–3 weeks after removal. Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever can all be transmitted via tick bite. Speak to your vet about year-round tick prevention.
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