How to Remove a Dead Tick From an Animal

Ticks are a type of arachnid that can potentially transmit many different diseases to your animals. Some of the diseases include Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia or Ehrlichiosis. A tick does not bite your animal, but burrows into its skin and feeds on your animal's blood. Ticks will latch on anywhere on your animal, including around their eyes or inside their ears. It is important to remove a tick, whether dead or alive, as soon as it is noticed.

Things You'll Need

  • Tweezers
  • Warm water
  • Soap
  • Alcohol
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Instructions

    • 1

      Grasp the tick as close to your animal's skin as possible with a pair of fine-tipped tweezers. If you don't have tweezers, use tissue or cloth to create a barrier between your hand and the tick.

    • 2

      Pull the tick away from your animal with a steady motion. Don't twist or turn the tweezers, which could break the tick. The tick's body can sometimes become detached from the mouth. If that happens, don't worry, the tick can no longer transmit bacteria when the mouth is removed from the rest of the body.

    • 3

      Throw the dead tick away, flush it down the toilet or place it in a small vial of alcohol if you want to have it identified.

    • 4

      Wash your hands with soap and warm water.

    • 5

      Clean the area on your animal around the removed tick with soap and warm water or rubbing alcohol.