Organic Insecticides | Organic Pesticides | EcoSMART Bug Spray

How to Remove a Tick From a Dog

You are petting your lovable pooch after a day outside when you notice that he has a tiny tick attached to his back. Don’t freak out and ban him from the backyard, ticks are easily plucked off the skin. This is why it’s important to know how to remove a tick from a dog. It is also helpful to understand which ticks are the most dangerous and how to spot them.

Read on about:

• How to remove a tick from a dog
• Types of ticks that feed on dogs

How to remove a tick from a dog

After each time your dog goes outside, thoroughly inspect him for any ticks or other bugs.

Don’t forget to look behind his ears, in his armpits and between his toes. Knowing where to look is just as important as knowing how to remove a tick from a dog.

When you first spot a tick on your dog, do not panic. Removing ticks properly is not difficult. Use tweezers or a tick scoop to remove the tick. A tick scoop looks like a spoon with a tiny notch on the end. This allows you to fit the notch around the tick then slide forward (not upwards) to easily remove a tick. A tick scoop can be found at most pet stores.

If using tweezers:

• Grab the tick by its head and pull straight upward.
• Pull firmly, but do not twist the tweezers.
• Dispose of the tick by flushing it down the toilet.
• Make sure to either wear latex gloves or wash your hands with soap and water immediately after.

Knowing how to remove a tick from a dog is important, but it doesn’t hurt to know a little more about these pests.

Types of ticks that feed on dogs

There are two ticks groups: soft and hard. Soft ticks prefer birds and bats, while hard ticks are the type found on humans and dogs.

You should be aware of the types of hard ticks in your region. Besides the Deer tick, two other important types to know are the Brown Dog tick and the American Dog tick.

Brown Dog Tick: Also known as the kennel tick, this type rarely bites people. It is unique because it can live and thrive indoors. These are problems in many kennels, and dogs who stay there can then bring them into peoples’ homes. However, it does not carry diseases that could infect humans.

American Dog Tick: Also known as the wood tick, these are one of the most frequently encountered types by animals and humans. Unfed American dog ticks are reddish-brown, the males have silver lines on their backs while females have a large silver-colored spot behind their heads. These can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia and even ehrlichiosis to dogs and humans.

If your dog has ticks, there is a strong possibility you could be exposed. Make sure you are always preventing ticks from attaching to you and your family. EcoSMART has all natural insect repellent to help repel ticks while keeping you and your family safe from potentially toxic chemicals typical in other repellents.

When the weather starts to warm up, don’t keep your dog cooped up inside because you’re afraid of ticks. Remember how to remove a tick from a dog properly, and your pet will be able to romp around carefree.