A How-to Guide for Tick Removal From Your Pets

Ticks are unpleasant for everyone, catching a sneaky ride on both you and your dog. Because ticks can carry several dangerous diseases, it's important to remove a tick promptly as soon as it is found and to do so properly to avoid tearing the tick and spreading possible infection.

Once you know how to remove a tick, the process is fairly simple and easy to repeat when necessary.

How to Remove a Tick From a Dog

The most common tool used for tick removal is tweezers. Most people have those on hand, but there are also tweezers made specifically for this purpose. Be sure to use ones with a fine-point tip instead of a blunt tip to avoid crushing the tick.

Carefully spread the dog's fur, revealing the tick as clearly as possible. With the tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Gently pull upward in a slow, steady motion to prevent the mouth parts from breaking off and staying embedded in the dog. It's a common misconception that ticks embed their heads in the skin — ticks have only one body segment with no definable head. What gets inserted is the harpoon-like barbs of the mouth, which you don't want to leave behind.

How to Remove a Tick: What Not to Do

To ensure your dog does not suffer from an infection or other complications, there are a few important things to keep in mind.

Do not use your fingers. This risks popping the tick or further injecting infectious material into the skin.

Do not yank. A sudden pull will separate the mouth from the body and leave it embedded in the skin.

Do not leave the bite untreated. Tick bites should be disinfected to avoid the risk of infection after the tick has been removed.

Consider a tick removal tool. For those in areas with a heavier tick population, a dedicated tick removal tool is a worthwhile investment. They are lightweight and portable, and help keep the tick's head and mouthparts intact during removal — minimizing the risk of infection.

What to Do After Removing a Tick From a Dog

Once the tick is out, your job isn't quite done. Follow these steps to keep your dog safe:

Clean the bite area. Use rubbing alcohol or soap and water to thoroughly disinfect the spot where the tick was attached.

Dispose of the tick properly. Place it in a sealed bag, submerge it in alcohol, or flush it down the toilet. Never crush it with your fingers.

Save the tick if possible. Storing the tick in a sealed container can help your vet identify the species and assess any disease risk.

Monitor your dog closely. Watch for symptoms of tick-borne illness over the following weeks — including lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, lameness, or swelling around the bite site.

Contact your vet if symptoms appear. If your dog shows any of the above signs, reach out to your veterinarian promptly. Early treatment leads to much better outcomes.

Get Joy Telehealth

Once you have removed the tick, if you have further concerns you can get on-demand access to a veterinary expert with Get Joy Health. All customers have free access to this service to help keep your dog active, healthy, and happy.