Written by: Bren Parker
Vet-reviewed by Kevin Smith, DVM, Richmond Road Vet Clinic
If you find a tick on your pet it needs to be removed properly. Luckily, this is fairly easy to do yourself. But don’t delay. Prompt removal of a tick is extremely important. Ticks can transmit diseases such Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis by embedding in the skin of an animal and feeding on its blood. Removing a tick is not complicated but needs to be done correctly so any possible infection is not further spread to your pet or you. Follow these steps to safely remove a tick:
1. Use fine-pointed tweezers to grab the tick by the head, close to the skin. Do not grab the tick by its body and do not use your fingers.
2. Pull firmly and slowly, directly upward. Do not twist the tick or pull it in a jerking motion. The goal is the removal of the entire body of the tick.
3. After removal, drop the tick in a jar of alcohol to kill it. Don’t crush it to kill it as this can spread infection to you if you have any open cuts or abrasions on your hand.
4. Apply a small amount of rubbing alcohol to the bite site to disinfect.Wash your hands and rinse off the tweezers with disinfectant.
If you’re more of a visual learner, check out this Youtube video.
Still have any concerns about removing a tick from your pet yourself? Take them to your vet; they can easily and safely remove it and show you how to do it correctly next time.
