If your dog loves the outdoors, then it should come as no surprise to know that the areas where your pet runs around in is where ticks may also hang out. When you find a tick on your dog it’s important to get the little bugger off as soon as possible, but with careful handling. Rushing to remove it can create more problems for both you and your pet. Below explains some simple tips on helping you remove the tick safely at home.
Prepare a Tick Container
Before you go plucking the little suckers off your pet, prepare a container that has some rubbing alcohol in it to place the tick in once it’s been removed. Simply flushing it down the toilet or throwing it away in the garbage won’t kill it. Plus it’s best to hold on to the evidence in case your pet falls ill from any bites that it attained from the tick.
Have Someone Help You
If your dog isn’t one to sit patiently as you pluck and part through his/her fur looking for ticks, have someone help you hold him/her down to soothe and calm their nerves. This will make the process easier as you search and pluck out the ticks in the deeper parts of the fur.
Don’t Use Bare Hands
One important thing to remember when doing an at-home removal for ticks is to never do it with your bare hands. Always wear some latex or rubber gloves to protect your skin from direct contact with your pet’s infected area and away from any tick. The little suckers can carry infective agents that can seep through your skin and can get you sick. So keep those hands protected throughout the removal process.
Use Tweezers for Removal
Before pulling out any ticks from your dog, be sure to rub the infected area with rubbing alcohol to sanitize it. Use a pair of clean tweezers and grab the tick as close to your pet’s skin as possible and pull straight up with an even pressure. Once removed place that tick in a container to keep it from escaping.
Clean and Praise Your Dog
Even when you remove a tick from your dog, sometimes part of its mouth can still get stuck within your pet’s skin. In the case that this happens, check the area for any redness or inflammation and if there is none go ahead and gently disinfect it. After all that plucking and cleaning be sure to praise and give your dog a treat for being patient enough during the removal process.
Removing ticks off your dog at home is a simple process, but sometimes that may not be enough for your pet. In case of any irritation or persistent ticks on your dog call a professional, like the ones at Brimley-Lawrence Animal Clinic for either an at-home visit or a direct appointment, to have your furry little friend checked out.
Karleia Steiner is a freelance blogger. You can follow her on Google+ and Facebook.
