How to Identify and Remove Ticks from Your Pet Safely

It happens to most pet owners – after a walk or play in long grass, your dog or cat may come home with an unwelcome passenger: a tick. These blood-feeding parasites can attach to dogs, cats, and even humans. While ticks are understandably unnerving, careful removal is essential to prevent infections and complications. Here’s a warm, practical guide on identifying and safely removing ticks from your pet.

Identifying ticks on your pet

Ticks are small, grey-brown, egg-shaped parasites usually measuring from 1mm to 1cm depending on their life stage. They can look like small bumps on the skin, becoming darker and larger as they fill with blood. Once attached, their legs are hidden, making them appear like tiny, rounded pebbles. Common sites they favour include the head, neck, ears, and feet, favouring less hairy, blood-rich areas. Remember, ticks don’t fly or jump but crawl or drop from vegetation.

Where to check for ticks

Ticks prefer areas with thin fur and rich blood supply. Common spots to inspect after outdoor activities include around the face, under the collar area, the inside of legs, between toes, and on the belly. Regular checks after walks, especially in humid or wooded areas, help catch ticks early before they attach firmly.

What NOT to do when removing ticks

• Never scrape, pull, or forcibly brush ticks off, as this may leave the head embedded and cause infections.
• Avoid using bare hands or fingernails to remove ticks since they can carry infections like Lyme disease.
• Do not burn, suffocate, or apply insecticides directly to the tick on your pet.
• Stay clear of alcohol, Vaseline, or soap methods to remove ticks, as these are ineffective and risky.

Safe and effective tick removal methods

Before beginning, prepare a small sealed container or jar for safe disposal of the tick after removal. Here’s how to proceed:

1. Gather your tools: Use disposable gloves and a fine-tipped pair of tweezers or a specialised tick removal tool such as a tick twister. These can often be purchased from your veterinarian or pet retailers.
2. Secure and examine your pet: Have someone gently hold your pet to prevent sudden movements. Part the fur carefully to see the tick clearly.
3. Remove the tick: Using the tweezers or tick twister, grasp the tick as close to your pet’s skin as possible, avoiding squeezing its body. Pull back steadily and firmly without jerking or twisting. Some prefer cautiously twisting slowly — the key is to ensure the tick's head is completely removed.
4. Check the site: Inspect the bite area to ensure no tick parts remain embedded. If the head or mouthparts remain, contact your vet promptly.
5. Dispose of the tick: Place the removed tick in rubbing alcohol or a sealed container to kill it. Do not just release it outdoors, as tick-borne diseases can spread.
6. Clean the area: Disinfect the bite site with a pet-safe antiseptic and wash your hands thoroughly after removal.

Aftercare and monitoring

Keep an eye on the bite site for a few days for signs of redness, swelling, or irritation. Though rare, ticks can transmit illnesses such as Lyme disease, which may cause lethargy, loss of appetite, lameness, or fever. If you notice any strange behaviour or symptoms, get your pet checked by a vet promptly.

By following this clear, step-by-step approach, you can protect your beloved dog or cat from infections and safely manage ticks at home with confidence.

For anyone looking to add a new puppy to their family, for example a Cocker Spaniel puppy, regular tick checks and prevention should be part of responsible pet care.