How to remove tick from dog with tweezers

June 4, 2019

Inhaltsverzeichnis Show

Tick Removal Using The Tweezer Method
What Not to Do When Removing a Tick
2. Keep your dog calm and relaxed
3. Expose the tick
Keep ticks from biting your dog in the first place

Finding a tick attached to your skin can be a scary experience; however, there is no need to panic. In the instance of blacklegged deer ticks, most do not carry disease, and those that do typically need to feed for an average of 36 to 48 hours before they can successfully transmit dangerous bacteria. Therefore, your chances of contracting Lyme disease – or any other tick-borne illness – are greatly reduced if you remove a tick using proper technique within the first 24 hours. Remember, too, that doctors have a much greater success rate in treating and curing early-diagnosed cases on Lyme disease, so prompt action is needed. Read on to learn how to remove a tick.

Tick Removal Using The Tweezer Method

The tweezer technique is by far the most common method for removing ticks. In fact, it’s endorsed by organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (for humans), and the Human Society and the ASPCA (for pets). If executed properly, the tweezer method can be a simple, safe and effective process for tick removal. There are also several devices on the market to help remove a tick, but a plain set of fine-tipped tweezers should do the trick.

Follow these simple steps for a successful tick removal:

Stay calm and gently pull back any hair from around the tick, exposing the skin near the tick/bite.
Locate the head of the tick, grasp it as close to the skin as possible using fine-tipped tweezers and gently squeeze. Do not grab the tick’s body, as this can increase the chance of injecting the tick’s blood into the skin.
Pull outward in a straight motion until the pressure pulls out the head of the tick. Do not twist or wiggle the tick, as that may tear the head off, leaving it lodged in the skin.
Once removed, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water. You can also use rubbing alcohol or an iodine scrub.
Ticks should then be flushed down a toilet or wrapped tightly in tissue before disposing in a closed receptacle. Do not try and crush them. Saving the tick for testing is generally not recommended, as ticks are rarely tested for specific diseases. However, testing a tick is an effective way to identify the species and any related disease risks. For instance, the dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) looks nothing like the deer tick (Ixodes scapularis), and while the latter transmit Lyme disease, the dog tick does not. On the other hand the dog tick can transmit other infections such as tularemia and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
If you develop a rash or fever within several weeks of removing a tick, see your doctor. Be sure to tell the doctor about your recent tick bite, when the bite occurred, and where you most likely acquired the tick. If you have saved the tick, be sure to bring it to show the doctor.

What Not to Do When Removing a Tick

The CDC suggests avoiding folklore remedies for removing a tick from the skin, such as “painting” the tick with nail polish, suffocating it with petroleum jelly, or using a heat source like matches to burn the tick and make it detach from the skin.

Your goal is to remove the tick as quickly as possible, so don’t ever ignore ticks in the hopes that they will detach from the skin and fall off on their own. Also, try and avoid crushing the tick’s body when removing it.

Learn More

Dr. Parada, medical advisor for the NPMA with a focus on infectious diseases, discusses the proper way to remove a tick in the following video. Watch it for more information!

Ticks are stubborn parasites commonly found in long grass and areas of bush. They latch on as your dog is passing by, and once they’ve attached they can be difficult to remove.

Although a tick will drop off your dog after it’s finished feeding, this process can take days, during which time the tick could paralyse your dog (in the case of paralysis ticks), or pass on tick-borne infections. The longer they stay attached, the greater the risk. That’s why it’s important to check your dog daily by running your fingers through the coat, and removing ticks as soon as you see one on your dog. Here’s how to do it safely.

The first thing you need to start the tick removal process is a tick removal tool, specifically designed to help you safely remove ticks from your dog in one piece.

If you don’t have a tick-puller, due to the very dangerous nature of paralysis ticks, either take your dog to the vet to remove the tick, or do your best to remove the tick with what you have available. Leaving the tick attached until you get the right tool is not an option for this deadly parasite!

You should also be prepared with a set of gloves to protect your hands during the process. Always wear gloves when dealing with ticks. The ticks found on your dog are very effective disease carriers, and some of these diseases can also affect you and your family.

Finally, have a sealed container handy to contain the tick after you remove it.

2. Keep your dog calm and relaxed

Attempt to remove a tick only when your dog is calm. Wait until your dog is still enough for you to get a good grasp of the tick with a tick removal tool. If you try to yank it out quickly, you risk leaving part of the tick behind in your dog’s skin, which can increase the risk of infection. It will be easier to remove the tick in one piece if your dog stays still. A bone or treat (such as jerky or kangaroo sticks) may help keep them occupied while you work to remove the tick.

3. Expose the tick

Gently part your dog’s coat around the tick and keep it flat with one hand, leaving your other hand free to remove the tick. Take your time with this step to ensure success. Because the tick has already latched on to your dog, it will stay in place and probably won’t move around after you expose it.

The tick removal tool is shaped to get under the parasite’s body and pull it out in one go, without squeezing. These tools can be bought from the chemist or local vet clinics as well as some supermarkets.

Regular tweezers are not recommended for use in tick removal, as these are likely to crush the tick, and may leave part of it inside your dog.

Follow the instructions on your tick removal tool. Generally, the steps are:

1. Place the hook of the tool against your pet's skin, alongside the tick.

2. Carefully slide the tool underneath the tick, trapping the tick in the wedge of the hook.

3. Gently pull the tool away from the skin while twisting, to remove the tick.

Gently wipe the affected area on your dog with an antiseptic designed for pets.

Drop the tick into a lidded jar or sealable container, close the lid and keep it to show your vet in the event that your dog becomes unwell. Clean your tick tool with disinfectant and store it somewhere safe for future use. Dispose of the gloves and wash your hands thoroughly.

Keep ticks from biting your dog in the first place

To reduce the chance that you’ll have to remove ticks from your dog, use protection regularly such as the Seresto® collar or Advantix® spot-on treatment for dogs. Once applied to your dog, they both work to repel and kill ticks on contact as well as stopping fleas from biting and feeding on your dog within three to five minutes, and kill adult fleas and their larvae within 20 minutes.