Ticks are small parasites that often live in wooded and humid areas. These creatures attach to skin and live off sucking the blood from other living things. Hair makes it easier for them to attach themselves, so the furry body of a puppy looks like a great place to jump on. If your puppy has a tick, it needs to be removed quickly in case it's carrying a dangerous disease, such as ehrlichiosisor Lyme disease.
Things You'll Need
- Tweezers
- Gloves
- Mineral oil
- Cotton swab
- Rubbing alcohol
Instructions
Removing the Tick
Find ticks in your puppy's fur by combing through looking for the brownish oval-shaped arachnids. If your puppy has one tick, it's likely that there may be another. You may also notice that your puppy has a tick bite if he has a fever, loss of appetite or appears lethargic. Symptoms will only show if the tick was one of the few carrying a disease.
Put on gloves before removing the tick. This will prevent any diseases the tick might be carrying from spreading. Hold your puppy still and comb back the fur. Keep a treat in your pocket as a reward for cooperation.
Douse a cotton swab with mineral oil or alcohol and hold to the tick. This will help to suffocate the tick, making the removal easier. Sterilize the tweezers by sticking them in rubbing alcohol or holding the tips in fire for a few seconds.
Place the tweezers as close to the head of the tick as possible. Pulling on the body of the tick may leave just the head where it is attached to your puppy, making the task more difficult. Pull straight up on the tick. Don't twist the tweezers, but you may want to gently jiggle them a little to encourage the tick to release its grip. Even stubborn ticks will eventually let go under constant pressure. A small piece of skin may come up when removing the tick. If the head remains on your puppy's body, try to grab it as much of it as possible. The puppy's immune system should fight off the remainder.
Swab the area with rubbing alcohol or soapy water briefly to sterilize the bite. Wash your hands also to prevent disease. Give your puppy a treat for sitting through the process. If your puppy knows a treat comes afterward, this could make any future tick removal attempts easier.