You should learn the safest way to remove deer ticks from your dog. Deer tick bites can lead to a number of health issues, including Lyme disease. It's important to check your dog for ticks after he spends time outside in the woods or in grassy areas. Quickly removing ticks from your dog helps eliminate the risk of disease. Lyme disease requires the tick to be attached to your dog for 24 hours. It takes that long for the bacteria to leave the tick and enter the canine host.
Safely Removing Deer Ticks
It's worthwhile to keep a tick remover on hand. The small device is readily available in pet stores and stores selling outdoor supplies. The tick remover has a small notch that slides under the tick and gently removes it.
While you can use tweezers, it is important to remove the entire tick and not leave the head behind. In addition, you don't want the tick to regurgitate as it is removed, so you cannot squeeze the tick too hard while removing it. When using tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. You want to hold the deer tick's head and not its body when removing it. Pull straight up; don't twist or pull at an angle.
Once the tick is removed, swab the area with a disinfectant. Check that you did get the entire tick. If you see a dark speck, it is likely you left the head or mouthpiece behind. If this happens, call your vet. If you got the entire tick out, watch that area for inflammation. If you notice anything concerning, contact your veterinarian.
Do not use a match or alcohol to remove a tick. This will cause the tick to regurgitate, increasing the risk of infection or spread of bacteria from the material they leave behind.
Tools for Removing Deer Ticks
The Tick Twister Pro is highly praised by pet owners who frequently find deer ticks on their pets. The bowl-shaped device grabs ticks right at the skin level and gently pulls them up. Because it is notched, you simply rock the device and the tick slowly pulls away without leaving the head or mouthpiece behind.
The Tick Key is a small device that fits on your key chain. It resembles a large guitar pick but has a hole at the narrower end. Place this hole over the tick and slide it down. As it moves, the hole narrows and gently lifts the tick from the skin.
Ticked Off was the first deer tick removal tool created. It looks like a tablespoon but has a notch. Slide this notch around the tick and gently rock the bowl away from the skin so that the tick is removed.
Tick Nipper is a plastic device that resembles garden shears. The cutting end slips around the tick and gently lifts it out as you squeeze the handles. There are stops in place that prevent you from damaging the tick. The benefit to this tick removal tool is the addition of a magnifying lens that allows you to see the tick more closely and ensure that you didn't leave the mouthpiece or head behind.