Ticks are parasitic insects that attach to host animals and feed on their blood, refusing to let go until they have had their fill. Many varieties of ticks hide out in tall grass and wait for a potential host to walk by before attaching themselves, and so dogs are a common victim of these insects. Ticks can be removed before they are ready to let go, but the process requires patience and the right tools.
Things You'll Need
- Tick removal tool
- Dish soap
- Witch hazel
Instructions
Slide the tick removal tool under the tick so that the head of the tick is in the slot, and the tool is between the body of the tick and the dog's skin. If you do not have a tick removal tool, you can use tweezers, but be careful not to squish or kill the tick prior to removal.
Gently pull the tick removal tool away from the dog's skin so that tension is created between the skin and the tick. This is going to irritate the tick so that it will let go.
Wait until the tick has let go of the skin. Do not yank the tick off of the dog's skin, otherwise there is a chance you will damage the tick and leave parts behind in the dog's skin.
Submerge the tick in a container of hot soapy water to kill it.
Apply witch hazel to the wound using a clean cotton swab or cotton ball. Witch hazel has disinfecting powers but is less inflammatory than rubbing alcohol when disinfecting a tick wound.
Monitor the injury area following the tick removal in case an infection results. Not all ticks are disease carriers, but some tick bites can cause allergic reactions and other health issues in dogs.