Most of us have gone into the woods and returned with a tick, a blood-drinking arthropod, attached to our body. Ticks will drink the blood of any warm-blooded mammal, so it's common to find them on our dogs as well. Ticks find their prey by using heat sensors and then attach themselves as a human or a dog passes by. The tick will then use its pincer-like mouth to burrow into the flesh of its prey and remain lodged there until its meal is completed.
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Tick Removal
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There are many homespun methods to removing a tick, but many of them will not work. For example, holding a match to the body of a feeding tick or covering it with nail polish will not make it let go. The tick will possibly die, but its mouthparts will still be lodged under the skin. The best way to remove a tick is to use a pair of tweezers and slowly pull it off. It is important to note that ticks can carry disease so be careful not to get any blood on you.
More on Tweezers
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The best technique is grabbing the tick as close to its head as possible. If you yank on the body, the head will probably break off and remain under the skin. Using steady pressure, pull the tick away. Don't be alarmed if a piece of skin comes away with the tick. If you are unsuccessful in removing the head of the tick, try to grab the head with the tweezers and remove as much as possible. If you can't remove it completely, the dog's immune system will push the head out eventually by created an abscess or infection at the site.
Prevention
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It is important to check your dogs for ticks after visiting a wooded area or meadow. The earlier you detect ticks, the less likely it is that they will have burrowed under the skin. If you live in a tick-infested area, you can buy a tick collar or apply topical products that will prevent ticks from jumping onto your dog. You usually apply this antitick solution between your dog's shoulders on a monthly basis. It is important to note that antitick products meant for dogs can be toxic for cats.
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