How to get rid of dog ticks

You find that your pet dog has ticks. Now what to do? Dog ticks carry diseases such as Lyme, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis. The tick bite itself can also cause a skin infection. This pest needs to be eradicated, and you have a way to do it! With a pair of tweezers, antiseptic, and a little bit of courage, you can remove ticks from your dog in a flash. Your beloved four-legged friend will be grateful to you!

Table of Contents

Identify dog ticks

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Know how to identify ticks and their preferred environment. The ticks prefer tall grass and low bushes. Some dog ticks are very small – almost the size of a flea – others are much larger. Dog ticks are usually black or brown and have an oval body. Like spiders and scorpions, they belong to a group of arthropods called arachnids and have eight legs.

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Prepare the necessary tools before searching for ticks. You will need a pair of thin-tipped tweezers and a bottle of alcohol. You’ll also need some antiseptic like chlorhexidine (Npvasan) or povidine iodine (Betadine) solution to clean the wound after catching the tick on your dog.

If you live in an area with a lot of ticks, it may be a good idea to purchase a device designed to get rid of ticks. This tool looks like a spoon with a V-shaped groove inside and is very effective at catching ticks on people and pets.
Contrary to popular belief, you can’t kill ticks by flushing them down the toilet. The only proper way you can get rid of ticks is to put them in alcohol or spray them with a spray bottle of ticks and fleas. ^{[1] X Research Source}

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Make sure your dog is comfortable and happy. Catching ticks is not fun for dogs. Give your dog a toy and a few pieces of his favorite food (with affection and love) before catching the tick.

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Look for ticks on your dog. You should check your dog’s coat for ticks every time he returns from places where you know ticks are present (on a picnic, in a yard with tall grass, etc.) You may feel small nodules and see dark round particles. Start on the dog’s back and work your way down to the sides of the dog’s chest and belly. Be sure to look in and around the following areas: ^{[2] X Trusted Source The Humane Society of the United States Go to source}

Foot
Between the toenails and the foot pad
Area below legs (armpits), abdomen, chest and tail
Above, inside and below the ears
Face and top of head
Chin
The front of the neck

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Use a comb when your dog has thick or curly hair. If you find it difficult to dig through the dog’s coat, you may need to use a tight-tooth comb to comb and find ticks. If this also doesn’t help, you can use a hair dryer set to cool to part the dog’s hair. However, you should also be aware that some dogs are afraid of hair dryers.

These tools should only support the hand when looking for dog ticks, because the best method is still touching with your hands.

Get rid of dog ticks

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Bathe/soak the dog in a flea and tick bath/water bath. These products may not be safe for very young puppies, so you need to read and follow the instructions carefully. Again, chemicals kill ticks to make them easier to get rid of, so don’t use this product if your pup is too young. Instead, you should use your hands to catch ticks for safety.

DO NOT use this product on cats, unless it is clearly stated on the product label that it is safe for cats.

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Separate each area of the dog’s coat when looking for ticks. You need to separate the dog’s hair when looking for ticks to avoid losing track. If you miss it, just check that area again. The tick will not move while sucking blood because it is sticking its head into the dog’s skin.

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Use a spray that kills ticks and fleas. Carefully follow the directions on the bottle and wait for the chemicals to work. Don’t spray too much. You certainly don’t want your dog to be poisoned. The chemical will cause the tick to leave the bite and fall off, or at least make it easier to catch the tick with your hands.

As with dog bath oils, many sprays should also be avoided on puppies. You need to carefully read and follow the instructions.
Some of the most effective sprays contain the ingredient “fipronil.” This spray will kill ticks, but not immediately. If you’re careful, you can spray the tick and wait for 24 hours. The next day, the ticks will fall off or will be easier to pull out when you use tweezers to catch the ticks.

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Catch ticks with tweezers. Clip the tick at its head and mouth, right where they are embedded in the dog’s skin. It is important that you clamp the tick’s head instead of the tick’s body. If you clamp the tick’s body, it will break off and leave the tip stuck in the dog’s skin. As such, the dog’s skin can become irritated and infected. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Quick action when pulling the tick out. When you act fast, the tick will not be warned to attach more tightly or salivate into the dog’s blood. You can also use a specially designed tick catcher that allows you to get as close to your dog’s skin as possible.
Do not catch ticks with your fingers. When you use your finger to catch a tick, you can crush the tick and create an environment for the disease to be transmitted to your pet. You should use a special tool to catch dog ticks or use tweezers carefully.
If the tick breaks off, your veterinarian will have to examine the remains of the tick in the dog’s skin. They will determine whether to remove those remains.

Prevention of dog ticks

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Discard dog ticks. Once you’ve caught all the ticks on your dog, you need to make sure the alcohol container is tightly sealed with the ticks inside. Close the vial tightly and wait for about a day. Once you’re sure the ticks are dead, you can throw them in the trash. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

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Take your dog to the vet to be checked for disease or infection. Dog ticks can carry many diseases, especially Lyme disease. Once the ticks have been removed, take your dog to the vet to make sure your pet is not contagious. ^{[8] X Trusted Source The Humane Society of the United States Go to Source}

It may help if you leave some ticks behind and show them to the vet. Identifying the tick species will make it easier for doctors to assess the risk of disease transmission.

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Regularly check your pet for ticks. Every time you walk your dog or let them play in tall grassy areas where ticks are suspected, you should check for ticks on your dog.

Depending on the region, some tick species will appear in different seasons. You can find this information online or from your veterinarian.

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Make pets and homes an inhospitable environment for dog ticks. Prevention is the most effective way to keep your dog from being attacked by ticks. You can use safe and effective tick and flea control products. There are topical medications, oral medications, and collars for tick control. You should consult your veterinarian before using a new medication. Ways to prevent ticks on dogs and in the home include:

Maintain grass and weeds below ankle level.
Seal trash cans, clear dirt and dusty areas. This will help prevent rodents from carrying ticks.
Walk on the trail when walking your dog and remember to keep the dog by your side. Avoid areas with lots of trees and tall grass, where ticks are common. If your dog runs off the trail (which they very often do), be sure to check the dog when you get home.

Advice

Always check your pet for fleas after they’ve been outdoors for extended periods of time, such as when camping, hiking, hunting, or playing at a dog park.
Always kill ticks after catching. The ticks that are still alive will again cling to the dog, to you, and to everyone in the household.
Use tick and flea control measures on a monthly basis. Consult your veterinarian before using any product to make sure there are no medication complications.
You can also take your dog to a veterinarian or professional dog grooming service to get rid of ticks, especially for dogs with severe tick infestations. Your doctor may recommend antibiotics and testing for tick-borne diseases. Severe tick infestations can also lead to anemia, as ticks feed on dog blood.

Warning

Do not give tick/flea control medications to your dog without consulting your veterinarian. Each product has its advantages and disadvantages, and your doctor will help you apply specific methods for each case.
Dog ticks can carry pathogens. They can transmit disease to you and your pet. In most cases, ticks will have to attach to a dog’s skin and feed on blood for more than 24 hours to transmit the disease, so it’s even more important to test people and dogs as soon as possible after exposure to ticks is suspected.

Things you need

Flea and tick-killing sprays or oils/soaps
Tools to catch dog ticks
Tweezers, if you don’t have a tool that specializes in catching dog ticks
Comb with tight teeth
Vase of ticks
Alcohol
Antiseptics such as chlorhexidine or povidine iodine solution.

Steps