Depending on where you live, finding a tick on your dog during the warm summer months is a common annoyance. If you and your dog frequent outdoor areas with tall grass and brush or densely wooded areas, you will likely discover a few of these pesky parasites hiding in your dog’s coat after a romp in the wild. Ticks are gross and can cause disease and other health problems if not removed promptly, so here’s what to do if you find a tick on your pup.
Step 1: Check For More Ticks.
Chances are if you find one tick, there’s probably more lurking elsewhere. Ticks like dark, warm, moist places to hide, so be sure to check your dog’s ears, armpits, groin area, under the tail, even in between their toes.
To check for ticks, start from the head and work your way to the tail by carefully finger combing and parting the hair until you can see skin. You can also use a wide tooth comb to help part the fur more easily. Fortunately, ticks are large enough to be visible to the naked eye, so you can spot them as you comb through your dog’s fur.
Step 2: Remove And Dispose of Ticks.
If you find a loose tick that is crawling around your dog’s fur, remove the tick and submerge it in a disposable container of rubbing alcohol. You can use a Ziploc bag, empty plastic soda bottle, or a small disposable cup, like a Dixie cup, would work too.
If a tick has already bitten your dog, you’ll be able to feel a little bump, roughly about the size of a pea, attached to surface of the skin. As the tick feeds, their bodies swell up with blood and they become much easier to spot.
To remove a tick from your dog, use a pair of tweezers and get as close to the dog’s skin as possible, firmly grasp the head of the tick, and pull straight out in even motion. Avoid grabbing the body because when you pull back, you may tear the body away, leaving the head/mouth of the tick still embedded in your dog’s skin. Do not twist or turn to try and remove the tick, as this may cause part of the tick’s mouth to break off and remain embedded in your dog’s skin. Best to use gloves and be sure to wash hands before and after removing ticks.
Do not light a match to get the tick to back out, this is a myth and not an effective strategy.
I live in an area that is very heavily infested with ticks, so I went ahead and purchased this specific tick removing tool, the Tick Tornado. I do a lot of hiking with my dogs, so I keep the Tick Tornado handy throughout the summer.
Once the whole tick has been safely removed, submerge the tick in a disposable container of rubbing alcohol and once dead, seal and throw away the container.
Step 3: Sanitize and Monitor the Bite Site
After you have removed the tick, grab a flashlight, and carefully inspect the tick bite for any remaining pieces of the tick that may have been left behind. If you see any small dark specks left in the bite site, these may be remnants of the tick’s mouth that got stuck in the skin.
Don’t panic if you find tick mouth remnants, the skin will naturally push them out as the wound heals. Keep the site clean with rubbing alcohol and apply a spray antiseptic such as chlorhexidine. Monitor for signs of infection such as redness, swelling, pus, or any sort of discharge. Be sure to keep a close watch on the wound site if you notice your dog scratching or chewing at the bite site.
Scratching and reopening the wound can increase the risk of infection, so if you notice your dog scratching at the spot, be sure to cleanse with antiseptic throughout the day. If your dog continues to be bothered for more than a few days and you notice the bite site is still red, puffy, or oozing, it’s time to head to the vet for a closer inspection.
Step 4: Risks and Treatment.
If you find and remove ticks right away and keep the wound site clear of infection, there isn’t immediate cause for concern or a vet visit. However, ticks do carry diseases, such as Lyme disease, and if your dog has multiple unnoticed ticks attached for a few days, there could be cause for concern.
For a tick to transmit Lyme disease, it must be attached to its host for at least 36-48 hours, so early detection is the best line of defense.
If you find multiple ticks on your dog that are very bloated and you suspect have been attached for multiple days, you may consider preserving one of the removed ticks and having your vet test it for disease. To preserve the tick, simply submerge it in the rubbing alcohol and seal the bag or container. Otherwise, you can remove the ticks, keep the wound sites clean, and monitor your dog for any abnormal symptoms.
For a more comprehensive list of tick-borne illness and their symptoms, check out this vet written article, 14 Top Questions About Ticks, Answered.
Fortunately, with early detection and medical intervention, tick borne illness are treatable in most cases. However, the best defense is a good offense, so read on for tips on how to prevent ticks and their icky illnesses.
Step 5: Prevention Methods
Avoid areas with tall grass, heavy brush, and thickly wooded areas during tick season. If you don’t want to be bothered with the possibility of ticks, avoid tick infested areas, and choose urban environments for your adventures with your pup.
Even though I hate dealing with ticks, my dogs have the most fun in natural environments, so I utilize the following preventatives to keep my fur babies safe. They only get to be on this planet a short time, so for me, the risk of ticks is worth them living a full and joyful life.
Use an oral medication. There are several different brands and options for oral, once a month, medication that kills and prevents fleas and ticks. Though these medications don’t necessarily prevent ticks from trying to hitch a ride on your fury friend, they do kill the ticks soon after they bite. As discussed, ticks need to be attached for a longer period to pass on disease, so these oral medications do the trick. Of all the brands, my top choice is Nexgard Plus because it kills and protects against all types of ticks, fleas, intestinal parasites, and heartworm. It’s a one stop shop monthly chew that keeps my pups safe and sound.
Use a tick repellant collar. Because I live in a high-volume tick zone, I double up on methods and use both an oral medication and an external repellant collar. The collars typically have a strong odor, so I remove them once we are back from our outdoor adventure and stow them away for safe keeping. I prefer to use brands like Wondercide because they use plant based natural repellents to keep away fleas, ticks, and mosquitos.
Apply topical tick repellant solution. If you’re the forgetful type like me, you may consider using a tick repellant topical solution that you apply once month to your dog’s coat. This way you don’t have to always remember the tick collar for outings. Dogs have sensitive skin just like us, so be careful to only use the topical solution once a month to avoid irritating the skin. I set reminders on my phone to help me keep track of applications. My favorite product to use is the Flea and Tick Spot On for Dogs and Cats with Natural Essential Oils by Wondercide. Keep in mind, this product does not kill ticks and fleas, it only repels them. To kill existing ticks and repel future ones, use the Flea and Tick Spray for Pets + Home with Natural Essential Oils. This spray is a life saver for me all summer long, I use it to spray down my pups and all our gear after a day out in the woods.
Check for ticks on a regular basis. Even with all the wonderful repellant products, ticks are sneaky and still sometimes find their way onto a furry friend. Regularly combing through your dog’s coat after outdoor adventures is a good habit to adopt during the warm months. Remember that ticks need to be attached for a day or so before most illnesses can be transmitted, so early detection of ticks is crucial in preventing any health issues.
For many dog guardians, ticks are an unavoidable pest of summertime. Summer is short and should be enjoyed, so don’t let fear of ticks keep you and your pup inside on a gorgeous day. Instead, use preventive measures, check your pup’s coat regularly, and have a safe, lovely, summer.
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