How to identify and remove ticks from your pet
Our helpful guide on how to identify if your pet has a tick and how to safely remove them
As a pet owner or groomer, there will likely be a point where you spot an unwelcome passenger on your dog - a tick. These critters are external parasites that can make themselves at home on dogs, cats or even humans. They are most commonly found in woodland or any tall, grassy or bushy areas between spring and autumn.
Although the temptation to immediately pull the nasty out is hard to ignore, you must take precaution as ticks can carry dangerous diseases that can affect humans too - most notably, Lyme disease.
How to identify ticks on your pet
To be able to safely remove a tick, you must first know what one looks like! These critters can vary in colour from cream or grey to dark brown; and in size from a fingernail down to a pin-head! Once their heads are buried in the skin the only visible part will be their back end and will resemble a small pebble or wart.
How to remove ticks from your pet
Before you dive straight in, you’ll need:
- Pointy tweezers or a tick tool
- Something to clean the area with, like soap and water
Once you have your tools, here’s what you need to do:
- Clean the area around the tick bite.
- Get your tweezers right down on your dog's skin so you can grab as close as possible to the tick’s head.
- Pull up slow and firm. Don't pull straight up, you need to gently twist to ensure the head is removed.
- Clean the bite area again, and your hands, with soap and water.
And that’s it!
