Removing ticks on dogs as soon as they are found is a necessary step to ensure the health of a pet. Many ticks carry diseases such as the notorious Lyme's Disease. It is important to know what types of environments ticks often inhabit, and how to safely remove one from your dog to prevent an infection.
Tick Habitat
Ticks are found in places of thick vegetation, in tall grasses, bushes, brush and in the woods where they have plenty of vegetation to crawl around upon and wait for an animal to pass.
How to Safely Remove Ticks
The process to safely remove a tick is not difficult but can be frightening to some dogs. To safely remove a tick:
- First hold a mineral oil soaked swab against the tick for about a half a minute.
- Using tweezers, squeeze the skin surrounding the tick, then grab its head.
- Carefully pull it out. Make sure to get it all.
- Swab the area with rubbing alcohol.
- Wash your hands.
It is important to remember not to twist or pull to hard. Expect resistance. Be sure to fully remove the tick. If a tick is not removed fully or correctly, it can leave your dog vulnerable to a number of diseases.
If you notice a tick on your dog's body, it is important to check his entire body for other ticks as well.
Another Method
Another method to safely remove a tick from your dog is to rub the tick in a circular motion. Ticks do not like this movement and often times will crawl out on their own, after which they can then be removed easily and discarded.
Common Tick Removal Mistakes
There are several common mistakes that dog owners make when removing a tick from their pet.
The most common mistake during a tick removal is to crush the tick. It is important not to do this, as crushing the tick will allow its blood to enter your dog's blood stream, and it may be carrying debilitating diseases.
Another common mistake is to attempt to remove the tick with one's fingers. This not only potentially allows the tick to be crushed, but opens you up as well to any potential diseases the tick may be carrying.
Ticks are unpleasant, but it is necessary to know how to properly remove them to ensure your dog's health. With a little practice, they can be safely and efficiently removed, thus preventing the transmission of several deadly diseases.