How to Spray Ticks

Ticks, literally blood-sucking parasites, can spread Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis and Colorado tick fever to pets, most often dogs and cats. Ticks also pose a health risk to your family, as ticks attach themselves to any mammal. When your dog or cat has ticks, remove them as soon as possible with a veterinary-recommended tick spray. Also, if you want to be sure your pets will not pick up ticks from your yard, use a chemical-based spray and treat the outdoor areas of your property.

Things You'll Need

  • Flea and tick spray, as recommended by your veterinarian
  • Disposable plastic gloves
  • Cotton balls
  • Outdoor tick spray
  • 4-gallon pest sprayer
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Instructions

  1. Spray Ticks Attached to Pets

    • 1

      Locate the tick attached to your pet's body. You will often find ticks in the head, neck, ears and anal areas of your pet.

    • 2

      Spray each tick from a few inches away, using the brand of tick spray designed for your pet and recommended by your veterinarian. Mist the tick, and the spray should kill it within a few seconds. The tick will fall from your pet's skin and hair in reaction to the spray. For ticks near the animal's nose, mouth or eyes put a bit of spray on a cotton ball and apply the spray by dabbing.

    • 3

      Collect each tick as it drops to the floor and dispose of it. Do not pick the ticks up with your bare hands; use disposable plastic gloves.

    • 4

      Spray other areas of your pet's coat lightly to kill any hidden ticks. You might have missed some ticks, as they can be hard to locate when hidden by a dog or cat's hair.

    Spray Your Property for Ticks

    • 5

      Remove any loose brush and debris from your property, as ticks thrive in thick vegetation and dead plants.

    • 6

      Mix the outdoor tick spray, as directed on the bottle directions, in a four-gallon pest sprayer. If you need more than four gallons, simply refill as needed.

    • 7

      Spray the exterior of your home or other structures on your property, applying a light mist. Spray directly around the outside of your home's walls first to drive ticks away from your house.

    • 8

      Coat the rest of the property with a light spray, moving away from your home in increments to drive ticks away. Keep all pets and humans off treated areas until the spray dries.