If You Arenât Sure You Can Remove a Tick
Call your vet. You can take your dog in, and they or a vet tech will remove it for you. Plus they can show you how, so you can take off the next one yourself.
Ticks are small arachnids that can carry fatal diseases that are transferable to humans, including Lyme disease. Keeping your pooch tick-free will keep your dog healthy and happy.
Ticks tend to stick to one place to feed themselves. As they feed on your dog’s blood, they can grow from the size of a pinhead to the size of a pea, depending on how long they have been there. If your dog has a tick, you should feel a small bump with your fingers or comb. Do not pull or force the comb over the bump; stop to see what the bump is before proceeding (pulling part of the tick’s body out can be harmful to your dog). You will also want to check the skin for areas that appear red or irritated, and watch your dog for signs of excessive scratching or licking in any particular areas. This can be a sign that a tick has attached itself to the skin in this spot.
Since ticks are usually dark colored and like to hide in deep and dark areas, they may be hard to see on dogs that have longer and/or darker coats. Getting your dog groomed will make the search easier.
Starting at the head, run your hands over your dog’s body, using your fingers like the teeth of a comb. Make sure to look under the collar, in and behind the ears, and under the tail. Ticks are drawn to the dark, hidden areas on the body, so be sure to check between the toes, as well as by the groin and front legs.
Even if your dog is on flea and tick preventative, it is important to check your dog for ticks regularly after he’s been outside, especially during the tick season: spring, summer and fall.
Using a tick remover:
How to check your dog for ticks
Ticks are masters of hiding and can be difficult to spot if they’ve hitched a ride on your pet. What does a tick look like on a cat or dog? Learn what ticks look like, how to check for them and what to do if you spot one.