Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Finding Ticks
• Part 2 of 3: Removing ticks
• Part 3 of 3: Preventive Measures
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need
• Similar articles

It is not pleasant when ticks parasitize on your beloved dog. Ticks not only spread dangerous diseases (Lyme disease, anaplasmosis), they also irritate the dog's skin. The parasites must go and you can make them go! To get rid of ticks quickly and easily, you need tweezers, rubbing alcohol, disinfectant and a little courage.The dog will be grateful to you from all his doggy heart.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Finding Ticks

1. 1 Learn how to identify ticks. Ticks like to live in grass and low bushes. Some species of ticks are very small, the size of a flea, and some, on the contrary, are gigantic in size. Ticks are usually black or brown and oval in shape. Like spiders and scorpions, they belong to the group of arthropods, they are classified as arachnids, and they have eight legs.
2. 2 Prepare all the necessary tools. Prepare in advance because ticks must be removed as soon as they are found. You will need narrow tweezers and a container of rubbing alcohol. You will also need a disinfectant such as chlorhexidine solution or Povidone Iodine (Betadine) to clean the wound after removing ticks from your pet.
   • If you live in an area where ticks are common, you should make a tick remover. Such a tool looks like a spoon with a notch cut in the side. It is very convenient for them to remove ticks, not only from pets, but also from people.
   • Contrary to popular myth, a tick cannot be killed by flushing it down the toilet. Therefore, you will have to use alcohol.
3. 3 Make sure your pet is calm and in a good mood. Imagine how you would feel if some arthropod parasitized on you. Some dogs show irritability, while others remain calm as if they weren't being bitten. Either way, calm your dog down and cheer him up. Give her a favorite toy or treat her with a treat. Show love and compassion.
4. 4 Check your dog for ticks. You should check the dog for ticks every time it returns from tick-prone areas (forests, fields, thickets of grass, etc.). You can feel small bumps with your hands, or you can see dark, rounded bumps visually. Begin by examining the withers, examining and feeling the sides from top to bottom. Be sure to check the following places:
   • Legs
   • Between the toes and pads
   • Front and back armpits, navel, chest, tail
   • Ears and under ears
   • Muzzle and crown
   • The chin
   • The front of the neck.
5. 5 Use a comb if your dog's coat is thick and curly. If you find it difficult to examine your dog's coat, use a fine-toothed comb to thoroughly examine your dog's skin. If the comb does not help, use a cold air dryer to examine the area of ​​your skin. Remember that many dogs are afraid of the hair dryer.
   • When using the tools, do not forget about your hands - it is with them that you can find the bumps.

Part 2 of 3: Removing ticks

1. 1 Wash your pet with a special anti-flea and tick shampoo. These products may not be safe for puppies, so read the instructions carefully before using. The beauty of this shampoo is that the chemicals it contains will kill the mites and make them easier to remove. If your pet is still too young, and the instructions for the anti-flea and tick shampoo say that his age is not suitable, do not use this product. In this case, the ticks must be removed manually.
   • Do not use this type of shampoo on cats unless the instructions say it is safe for them.
2. 2 When you find a tick, keep the fur spread apart so as not to lose it. In any case, you can easily find the tick again, because when the tick bites, the head digs deep into the skin and does not move from place to place. But if you remove the tick incorrectly, the head can remain in the skin and cause irritation, inflammation, or infection.
3. 3 Use a flea and tick spray. Follow the directions on the spray bottle and wait for the chemicals to kill the pincers. Don't overdo it. If you don't want to poison your pet, the chemicals will loosen their bite and make them easier to pull out.
   • As with shampoo, many sprays cannot be used on puppies. Read the instructions carefully and follow them.
4. 4 Remove the tick with tweezers. Grab the head of the tick near the proboscis, right where it enters the skin. It is very important to hold the tick by the head and not by the body. If you grab a tick by the body, the tick can burst, leaving the head in the skin, which can lead to inflammation or disease.
   • Do not pull the tick out with your fingers, or you may contract diseases that ticks carry. Always use tweezers or a tick removal device. If neither is available, wear rubber gloves.
   • If ticks break off while removing them, you will need to see your veterinarian to check your pet to make sure there are no ticks on its skin. Your veterinarian will determine if the remaining parts need to be removed or not.
5. 5 Apply petroleum jelly to your pet's skin. If you are nervous about whether you can completely remove the ticks or not, then use petroleum jelly. Apply a thick layer of petroleum jelly to your pet's skin, especially around its head. This will prevent the ticks from breathing and will have to pull the head out of the animal's skin. After that, you can safely remove the ticks with tweezers, without the risk of tearing the head off the body.
   • Using petroleum jelly does not guarantee that the mite will pull its head out of the pet's skin. In any case, after applying petroleum jelly, you need to wait a few minutes.
6. 6 Put the tick in rubbing alcohol. This is one of the easiest and safest ways to kill a tick. Make sure the tick is completely immersed in alcohol and cannot get out. Don't worry if the tick moves, it will stop moving as soon as it dies.
7. 7 Repeat the process until you have removed all the mites you find. Up to forty ticks can sit on a dog at a time, so examine the skin very carefully, be sure to remove all ticks.
8. 8 Wipe the bite site with a disinfectant. Using an ointment containing several antibiotics is a good measure to prevent inflammation and infection. Veterinarians recommend chlorhexidine or Povidone Iodine (Betadine) dissolved in water. To find out in what proportion to dissolve a particular product, read the instructions on the etiquette and follow it.

Part 3 of 3: Preventive Measures

1. 1 Throw out the ticks. After removing all the mites, make sure they are all carefully drowned in the alcohol container. Close the container with a lid and leave it there for a day. When you are sure that all the ticks are dead, you can bury them in the ground, or throw them in the trash can.
2. 2 Take your pet to the veterinarian to check for infections and illnesses. Ticks carry many diseases, especially Lyme disease. Once you've removed the ticks from your dog, make an appointment with your veterinarian.
   • Save a few pieces in a bag. When you take your dog to the veterinarian for a checkup, turn in the ticks for testing. The veterinarian will determine the type of tick, and it will be easier for him to establish what kind of diseases he is carrying.
3. 3 Check your dog for ticks regularly. Do this after every walk in nature, especially if the dog has played in tall grass or other tick-prone areas.
   • Some ticks appear in the spring, others in the summer. It all depends on the area in which you live. Check with your veterinarian for more information.
4. 4 Provide an unfavorable environment for the ticks. It is better to avoid the possibility of being bitten than to remove the ticks later. Use a safe and effective treatment for tick and flea bites. Check with your veterinarian to help you find the right remedy. Other methods of prevention:
   • Mow and trim the grass near your home so that it is no higher than your feet.
   • Cover your trash with lids and get rid of heaps of rocks and bushes.This way, you will keep rats and other rodents that carry ticks away from your home.
   • When you walk your dog, walk along the paths and try to have your dog with you. Avoid forests and tall grass. Ticks live there. If the dog walks off the path into the thicket, check the dog after the walk.

Tips

• Always check your dog for ticks after extended periods outside the home, such as after fishing, hiking, and so on.
• Kill the tick immediately after removal. Otherwise, he may bite the dog, you or family members again.
• Check with your veterinarian for a monthly course of tick and flea prophylaxis.
• If the area of ​​parasite infestation is too large, you may need to see your veterinarian. Your pet may be prescribed antibiotics and tested for diseases that the ticks may transmit. If the area is large, the dog may develop anemia as the mites feed on the animal's blood.

Warnings

• Ticks spread disease. They can pass them on to your pet and you. It takes a tick twenty-four hours to transmit the disease. Therefore, it is especially important to see a specialist at the first sign of ticks in you or your pet.
• Some anti-tick and flea medications can be hazardous to your dog's health. Therefore, do not use them without consulting your veterinarian.

What do you need

• Spray or shampoo against ticks and fleas
• Tick ​​Removal Tool
• Tweezers (if no dedicated tick removal tool is available)
• Comb with a fine comb
• Container with lid
• Alcohol
• Disinfectant such as chlorhexidine solution or Povidone iodine (Betadine)

Similar articles

• How to apply Advantix to a dog
• How to treat a dog's stomach pain
• How to apply Frontline
• How to remove a tick
• How to recognize a black-footed tick