Ticks are external parasites that thrive on the blood of warm blooded creatures, especially cats and dogs. Ticks are often confused with insects, but, they are actually arachnids, like, mites, spiders and scorpions. These blood sucking parasites, which do not fly or jump, are found on grass and shrubs, waiting for a host. Once they find a passing host, they just drop on the body of the host and get attached to the host's skin. Ticks insert their mandibles and the feeding tube into the skin of the host. It is these organs that help the parasite to get itself fixed to the body of the host. They suck the blood of the host for survival. There are many different types of ticks, which can transmit various diseases, like, Lyme disease, Q fever, Colorado tick fever, tularemia, tick-borne relapsing fever, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, tick-borne meningoencephalitis, anaplasmosis in cattle and canine jaundice. Dogs are more prone to tick infestation, as they love to roam around and play in grass. It is always better to act promptly, as soon as you notice ticks or symptoms of tick infestation in your dog. To remove tick from dog as early as possible is of utmost importance as, this will prevent the chances of your dog getting affected with diseases, which can be deadly. The following paragraphs deal with how to get rid of ticks on dogs. Read more on getting rid of ticks.
How to Remove a Tick From a Dog
Removing ticks from dogs can be really tricky, unless you know the right method. You cannot crush or squeeze these parasites, while they are on the dog's body. This will cause the spread of parasites in the tick's body to the dog's body. If the tick's head is attached to the skin of the dog, then also, you should not try to forcibly remove tick from dog, as the head may remain in the dog's skin, causing diseases. In short, you have to remove the tick intact, so as to prevent dog illnesses caused by these parasites. The following technique can be employed for effective tick removal from dog, which can be a part of routine dog care:
- Once, you notice tick bites on dogs, or tick infestation symptoms in your dog, you have to act fast. You have to use gloves, while removing ticks, as these parasites can spread infections. Keep some alcohol and other disinfectants handy.
- Seat your dog in a comfortable position and run your fingers through its fur. Check for bumps on the skin, which can be ticks. Once you identify a tick, you have to prepare for tick removal by parting the hair at the site.
- You may spray some alcohol or tick spray over the skin, which is infested with tick. This may either kill the tick, or make it dizzy, so that its grip on the dog's skin gets loosened.
- The next step is to remove tick from dog with a pointed tweezer or tick removal tool. Grasp the tick firmly and pull it out in a straight jerk. Never twist the body of the tick, as it can cause breaking of its body, which may lead to infection. While grasping the tick, you have to make sure that you grab it close to the head. If the head is left behind in the dog skin, it may result in dog health problems, like infections and diseases.
- If a small part of the tick is left behind in the dog's body, try to remove it. If it is not possible, leave it there itself, as further efforts to remove it may hurt the dog. It will be taken care of by the dog's immune system.
- Once the tick is removed, you must dispose it by burning or flushing it down the sink. You have to disinfect the site, from where you have removed tick from dog, by applying some alcohol or cleaning with mild soap and water.
- Now, you know how to remove tick from a dog. You have to check throughout the dog's body for ticks and then kill them one by one. However, this method is not practical in case of heavy infestation, which can be countered with commercial products, which are used for spraying, dipping, bathing, or powdering.