Ticks are bad news: They transmit several diseases that can cause severe illness and even death in both dogs and humans, so keeping your dog tick-free is a top priority.
To remove a tick, follow these steps:
- Use a pair of tweezers to grasp the head of the tick where it attaches to the skin.
- Wear gloves if you plan to use your fingers to remove the tick.
- Pull on the tick gently and steadily. If you yank the tick away from your dog too quickly, you’ll leave part of the tick’s mouth behind, which can cause an infection.
- In about 20 to 30 seconds, the tick’s mouth will release its grasp and the tick will come away cleanly.
- Dab some disinfectant on your dog on the bitten area, being extremely careful if you’re around your dog’s eyes.
- Kill the tick by placing it in alcohol.
- Save the dead tick in a resealable plastic bag, labeled with the date on which the tick was found.
- This may sound weird, but if your dog becomes ill, you may need to identify the species of tick that bit him.
Never remove a tick with your bare hands, and never crush a tick between your fingers. If you do, you put yourself at risk of contracting Lyme disease or one of the other tick-borne diseases.
If your dog becomes ill and you recently found a tick on him, seek veterinary attention immediately. Most tick-borne diseases can be treated successfully if a diagnosis is made immediately and appropriate treatment initiated. If the tick-borne organisms are allowed to gain a foothold, however, these bad bugs can cause serious illness or even death.
Keep Your Pets Safe From Ticks!
A Friendly Reminder from Makati Dog and Cat Hospital
Thanks: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-get-rid-of-ticks-on-your-dog.html