How to Remove a Tick from a Dog

Searches for ‘How to Remove a Tick from a Dog’ peak each Spring. This is the time when tick infestations increase. High humidity and lots of rainfall make tall vegetation a perfect place for ticks to thrive. Dogs can pick up ticks from vegetation during walks or even from the garden. Ticks can spread disease such as Lyme Disease or babesiosis. Quick and proper removal is important to reduce infection risk.

Ticks are a parasite that feed on the blood of their host. They can feed for a couple of days to two weeks before dropping off. In this time, they can transfer diseases to the host.

There are many species of tick, but they commonly fall in to two families. Hard ticks (Ixodidae) and soft ticks (Argasidae) are typically responsible for infesting dogs and cats.

Ticks can attach anywhere on the body. However, they are more common on bare and thin skinned areas such as the face, ears and abdomen. See our 5-step guide on how to remove a tick from a dog.

There are a few methods suggested for removing a tick. Most of these are ineffective, see some common tick removal myths below.

The preferred method of tick removal is to manually remove the tick with tweezers or a tick-removal tool ¹.

The longer a tick is attached, the more difficult it can be to remove. This is due to the secretion of ‘cement’ around the bite area that attaches attached the tick to the host.

Which Tick Remover Should You Use?

A 2006 study looked at the removal of 236 ticks by veterinarians and pet owners with different tick removal tools. The slit and rotate tool (image above e.g. O’Tom Tick Twister) was found to be easier to use and more efficient than tweezers ².

Common Tick Removal Myths

Myth 1 – Petroleum Jelly

Smothering a tick in petroleum jelly is thought to stop the tick being able to breathe. The tick is then supposed to drop off. Unfortunately, this isn’t true. Ticks have such a slow respiration rate, they only need to breathe a few times per hour.

Myth 2 – Fingernail Polish

Similar to petroleum jelly, covering a tick in fingernail polish is thought to prevent respiration. The volatile compounds in the polish are supposed to contribute to faster detachment of the tick. Again, as ticks breathe so infrequently, this method is not effective.

Myth 3 – Rubbing Alcohol

Once again thought to stop respiration, alcohol is supposed to cause ticks to drop off. Unfortunately this doesn’t work. However, isopropyl alcohol will disinfect the area, which is beneficial once the tick has been removed with tweezers or a tick removal tool.

Myth 4 – Match / Lighter / Flame

This is the most dangerous myth. Hot objects or flames can cause burns to the dog and do not cause the tick to drop off. Even worse, they can cause a tick to burst causing exposure to infected fluids! Heat can also cause a tick to regurgitate infected fluids back in to the wound leading to infection.

Tips for Avoiding Tick Infestation

Avoid Tick Hotspots

Any area with plenty of wildlife and lush vegetation can be a perfect habitat for ticks. Some places are more prone to ticks than others however.

Places in the UK known to be hotspots include; New Forest, Exmoor, the South Downs, Thetford Forest, the Lake District, the North Yorkshire Moors, and the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. See the map below for UK tick hotspots ³.

Inspect Animals Regularly

Prompt removal of ticks is key to preventing transmission of disease. After walking your dog in areas where ticks could be present, do a visual check to make sure there are no unwanted guests. It is also a good idea to do these checks regularly, as ticks can also be found in the garden. You can also bring your pet to veterinarian services to get them checked.

Use Tick Repellents

If you think your pet could be at risk of a tick infestation, there are many tick repellents available as well as home-made solutions. Use these repellents when heading in to areas where ticks could be a problem.