No matter how vigilant you are, it will never be easy for you to stop ticks from infesting your furry friend, especially if they spend time outdoors. Ticks are harmful parasites that are mostly found in woodland and long grass areas. They tend to get attached to your dog as it visits such areas and are quite difficult to get rid of. They will keep feeding on your dog and can even transmit harmful diseases such as Lyme disease. As dog parents, you must know that it is important to eliminate these pesky parasites as soon as you spot them.
In this blog, we will shed light on removing a tick from a dog easily at home.
- Collect your supplies
First and foremost you must get your hands on a good quality tick-removal tool that is designed for removing a tick from a dog without breaking the tick’s body. You would also need a pair of gloves to protect your hands from ticks. It is important to keep your hands protected as these parasites carry various diseases and can affect you and your loved ones.
Also, keep a pet-friendly antiseptic disinfectant ready along with a sealed container for you to dispose of the ticks after you’ve removed them from your pooch’s coat.
- Help your dog to calm down and relax
Always make sure to have your dog relaxed and lying down while you begin removing ticks from its body. If you try to pull it out while your dog is moving, you might end up breaking the tick’s body and removing only a part of it. This can increase the risk of infection.
- Don’t leave the head implanted
Wear your gloves and pour a bit of rubbing alcohol around the tick to flatten your dog’s hair. Part your dog’s fur around the tick with one hand and use your other hand to pull the tick. Ticks bury their head on your dog’s body and expose their abdomen. Therefore, you need to be careful not to leave their head on the dog’s body while removing them.
- Pull the tick from your dog’s coat
Use a tick hook to eliminate the tick from your dog’s coat. The tool is designed to get under the tick’s body and pull it out without squeezing it. Squeezing can result in the release of bacteria-laden tick saliva into your dog’s bite wound.
- Disinfect the bite wound
Gently wipe the wounded area with a pet-friendly antiseptic liquid to disinfect it. You can also opt for soap and water if an antiseptic liquid is not readily available.
- Store the tick
You can place the tick in a container and store it for future investigation. Keep a close watch on your dog for 3 weeks and look out for signs of illness. If you suspect of anything going wrong, you can show the tick to your vet to find out if it is particularly dangerous for your dog. You can keep the tick in a container filled with rubbing alcohol as it will kill the parasite and allow you to store it safely. Also, learn about the best tick treatments for dogs.
Concluding Note
The process of removing ticks can be very tedious. Fortunately, there is a wide range of treatments and vet-line products that help protect your dogs from these harmful parasites. You can make use of monthly spot-on treatments, chewables, and flea and tick collars to prevent tick infestations and avoid the unpleasant process for you and your furry friend.
