How to Remove a Tick
Ticks can carry diseases that affect your dog’s health, so it’s important to remove them safely and monitor your pet afterward. Follow these steps to ensure proper removal and care.
Preparation
Before you begin, gather the following supplies:
Tweezers or a tick removal tool
Rubbing alcohol
A Ziploc bag
Rubber gloves
Disinfectant or antibiotic cream (available from your veterinarian)
Removal
Put on your rubber gloves.
If using tweezers:
Grasp the tick as close to your dog’s skin as possible.
If using a tick removal tool:
Gently press the tool against your dog’s skin near the tick.
Slide the notch of the tool underneath the tick.
Slowly and steadily pull the tick out of your dog’s skin.
Avoid twisting, squeezing, or crushing the tick, as this can leave the head embedded in the skin.
After Care
Place the tick in a Ziploc bag with rubbing alcohol and leave it for 24 hours to ensure it is killed.
Wash your hands thoroughly.
Note the location and date you found the tick.
Apply disinfectant or antibiotic cream to the bite site.
Clean your tweezers or tick removal tool with rubbing alcohol.
Consider submitting the tick for identification through eTick to help track tick-borne disease risks in your area.
Watch for symptoms of tick-borne illnesses
Contact your veterinarian immediately if your dog develops any of the following symptoms after a tick bite:
Joint pain or stiffness
Lethargy or weakness
Weight loss
Decreased appetite or thirst
Redness or inflammation at the bite site
Neurological issues (e.g., tremors, incoordination)
Prevention
Preventing tick bites is the best way to keep your animal healthy. Your veterinarian can recommend effective tick prevention products such as:
Bravecto – protects against ticks and fleas for several months
Other approved topical or oral tick preventatives
Additional prevention tips:
Avoid areas with tall grass, heavy brush, or dense wooded areas where ticks are common.
Check your pet regularly for ticks, especially after walks in high-risk areas.
Keep your yard maintained by trimming grass and removing leaf litter where ticks may hide.
Using a combination of preventative products and regular tick checks greatly reduces your pet’s risk of tick-borne illness.
