Ticks are common parasites that attack dogs and suck their blood. Although dog ticks are initially small in size, they swell up after attaching themselves to the dogs.
You may think that ticks do not harm your dogs because of their small size. However, they can cause dogs significant discomfort. They can also cause several diseases that may cause you severe pain.
Since ticks swell up when they are full of blood, you will easily spot them with your naked eyes. They are commonly found around the dog’s head and neck. When you do spot them, it is essential to remove them quickly and properly.
As the owner, you should treat your dog regularly to get rid of ticks and fleas. In particular, ticks can be removed using special tick removal tools instead of spraying.
How to Remove a Tick From a Dog
There are several ways of removing ticks from dogs. However, many people make a mistake of pulling the ticks out of the dog’s skin using their hands. This is dangerous because you may leave the mouthpart behind and cause inflammation or an infection.
If you are not sure about the right procedure of removing the ticks, consult a vet. You can also remove the ticks using Vaseline or alcohol as instructed by the vet. This is how to go about it.
1. How to Remove a Tick From a Dog with Vaseline
You can remove ticks from a dog using Vaseline by following these steps:
- Assemble all the items needed, including Vaseline, pointed tweezers or tick removers, water, latex gloves, and soap.
- Put on the gloves and identify the tick’s location on the dog’s body. It is easy to spot the tick because the skin will swell up around that area. Although ticks rarely transmit infections to humans, it is always good to be safe at all times by wearing the gloves.
- Apply a good amount of Vaseline on the ticks to make them remove their grip on the dog’s skin or back out. In doing so, you will ease the removal process. The tick will be suffocated.
- Then use special tools such as tick removers or tweezers to pull the tick off the skin. It is recommended that you use a tool with a slit at the center so that you can grasp the tick as close to the dog’s skin as possible.
- Slide the tick remover underneath the tick so that the tick is in the middle. It would help if you were careful to avoid ripping the tick and pouring its fluid into the dog’s bloodstream.
- Twist the tool several times and then pull the tick off the body of the dog. You should pull it backward and not in any other direction.
- Once the tick is out, suffocate it by adding more Vaseline.
- Then clean the part that was affected using soap and water. You can also disinfect it with antibiotics.
- Finally, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water.
2. How to Remove Tick from Dog with Alcohol
If you have no Vaseline at home, you can use rubbing alcohol to remove the ticks instead. It is an approved and safe method of removing ticks. Here are the steps:
- Assemble all the items needed, including rubbing alcohol, tweezers, and latex gloves.
- Then put on the gloves.
- Dab the tick and the surrounding area with some alcohol. This is done to clean and disinfect the affected area.
- Using the tweezers, pull the ticks out of the dog’s skin. This should be done carefully without squeezing for optimum results.
- Then dispose of the ticks careful by either drowning them in rubbing alcohol or flushing them down the toilet.
- Then clean the affected area with alcohol and apply some antibacterial ointment.
- Then rinse your hands thoroughly.
3. How to Remove a Tick from a Dog Without Tweezers
Ticks can also be removed without using tweezers. Tweezers are challenging to use. Additionally, tweezers increase the risk of leaving the head behind when pulling the tick out of the dog’s skin.
Therefore, you can forego tweezers and use tick removal tools instead. A tick removal tool will easily pull the ticks out. Slide its fork underneath the tick and pry it upward slowly to remove the tick.
A tick removal kit has two sets of tick removers specially designed for small and large ticks. Additionally, the kit has an identification card that will help you identify the type of ticks on your dog’s skin.
How to Remove a Tick from a Cat
Cats are also attacked by ticks, fleas, and other parasites. Cat ticks are visible with the naked eyes. Additionally, the skin areas attacked by ticks swell up, so it is easy to spot the ticks.
Cat ticks removal is a tricky process because the cat may be squirmy. However, you can follow these steps to remove the ticks on your cat’s skin:
- Assemble the required items, including latex gloves, rubbing alcohol or Vaseline, tick removal tools or tweezers, and antibiotic ointment.
- Put on the gloves and find the ticks by placing your hand on the cat’s skin. You should be able to feel the ticks with your hands.
- Then grab the tick using the selected removal tool. You should ensure that you grab the tick as close to the cat’s skin as possible to avoid ripping it.
- Then pull it out carefully without squeezing or twisting the removal tool. If you make a mistake, the head will be left embedded in the cat’s skin, which is dangerous.
- Then dispose of the ticks in rubbing alcohol to kill them.
- Use some rubbing alcohol to clean the affected area and then apply some antibiotic ointment.
- Remove the gloves and wash your hands thoroughly.
Final Thoughts
It is inevitable to prevent dogs and cats from playing outside. In the process of playing, they are attacked by ticks and other parasites. However, the pests can be controlled by either spraying them or removing them. In particular, ticks can be removed from dogs and cats using tick removal tools or tweezers, alcohol, or Vaseline, as explained above.