Dog is a universal pet, and it has been in human living areas for many years. Many people love to have a pet animal and most of them will be a dog, having a pet is a good thing to spend your time and a dog can secure your home from strangers. It is important to maintain your pet’s health, ticks and fleas are the biggest nuisances for pet lovers. Normally, a dog will spend 30 minutes to 2 hours a day, and there are many chances to get bitten by ticks. Ticks are blood-sucking insects and once they are attached to a dog’s skin, they will stay latched for a couple of days.
Adult ticks are more active in fall and spring, and they can stay in the dog’s body for 7 to 10 days, and baby ticks are more active during summer, but these baby ticks can wander off after 3 to 4 days. The longer a tick stays in your pet’s body, it can transfer dangerous bacteria and viruses, so it is better to find and remove them soon. In this article, we are going to discuss, how to remove a tick from a dog.
How to Check your Dog For ticks?
Pet lover should inspect their pets for ticks every day especially when they spend more time outside. It is not a difficult task, you can use your own time to check it, if you are doing this regularly then this will become a habit to prevent pest dangers for pets.
You can use your hand by moving them gently in your pet’s fur, check the whole body, and if you find any bumps in the skin then check the area by separating the fur and take a proper look. A tick attached to the skin will look like a dark-colored dot if you screen it properly you can find an oval-shaped body with legs.
You should pay special attention to these areas while you are checking for a tick in your pooch’s body,
- In and around the ears
- Under the collar
- Between the legs
- Between the toes
- Around the tail
- On the eyelids
How to Remove a Tick from a Dog?
If you find a tick in your pooch’s body, don’t be scared, if you are checking for the ticks daily, then it would be a new tick bite. The new tick will not have enough time to transfer pathogens and cause dangers. You can remove it on your own, but you need some equipment to do it. Here’s what you need,
- Fine-tipped tweezers
- Gloves
- Rubbing alcohol
- Plastic bag or container
Step 1 – Part the Fur
If your dog has long hair, then it is difficult to spot the tick, so gently part the fur on both sides and hold on to it and grab the tick in another hand. You can also wet the fur to make the process easy.
Step 2 – Grab the Head
If you want to remove the tick without any danger, avoid its body and try to garb its head with a fine-tipped tweezer. Avoid touching ticks with your bare hands to prevent yourself from danger.
Step 3 – Pull the tick
When you try to pull a tick out keep your hands steady and pull out straight with some pressure, do not try to move or twist your hand. Because if you made any movement, then the head will be broken and separated from the body and the mouth part of the tick will stay attached.
Step 4 – Treat the Wound
After pulling the tick out, treat the bitten area to prevent infections. Clean the spot with soap and water and use rubbing alcohol to heal the wound and kill the bacteria.
Step 5 – Dispose of the Tick
After pulling out all the ticks, do not crush or dispose of them immediately. Wait for a couple of days and check if your pooch has any side effects like vomiting, fever, and swelling. If you notice any of the symptoms, then consult your veterinarian immediately and take the bag of ticks with you when you have an appointment.
Conclusion
The above listed are the tips to remove a tick from a dog. Ticks are not only dangerous for your pets but also cause health risks for humans. If you cannot ignore the ticks and other pest infestations near your home, then hire a professional pest control service to get rid of ticks for years.