How to Prevent Tick Disease in Animals

Inspect the animal regularly for attached ticks. According to the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, ticks are most commonly found attached to the back of an animal's neck, in their ears and between the toes of certain animals, but may also be present on any part of the animal's body. Use your hands or a small comb to gently pull the animal's fur up and off the skin to locate ticks that are attached to the skin of the animal.

Remove all visible ticks on the animal immediately upon detection. Place sanitary gloves on your hands to prevent being accidentally bitten by the tick. The National Science Foundation recommends grasping the tick firmly with a pair of tweezers, as close to the animal's skin as possible, and gently removing it with a slow and steady pull away from the animal's body. Dispose of the tick by burning it or by placing it in a small container or jar filled with alcohol.

Treat the animal for ticks. According to the National Science Foundation, flea and tick collars, sprays, dips and shampoos, containing an approved pesticide that specializes in killing ticks, may give small animals some protection against ticks.

Treat your yard or property for ticks with a reputable insecticide. The National Science Foundation recommends using an insecticide containing permethrin, chlorpyrifos, propoxur or diazinon for maximum success. You can purchase a reputable insecticide from home improvement or lawn and garden stores.

Inspect yourself for ticks regularly. If you live or work in a tick-infested area and regularly come into contact with animals, you may end up carrying or transmitting ticks to animals. Wear protective clothing and spray a store-brand tick repellent on your clothes to keep ticks at bay. Examine your body or clothing every few hours and remove any visible ticks immediately to prevent the ticks from coming into contact with animals. Read and follow all tick repellent label directions carefully before applying the product to your clothes.

Remove all weeds or brush from your yard and keep your lawn mowed regularly. According to the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, you can prevent tick populations from building up in your yard by keep your lawn mowed and by frequently removing all tall grass, weeds or brush from your yard.

Confine the animal to a fenced-in area, if necessary, to prevent it from entering areas heavily infested by ticks. According to the National Science Foundation, ticks are most commonly found in shrub and woodland habitats, but may also be found in the underbrush along creeks and river bottoms and in animal resting places.