Removing ticks from your dog and keeping them off!

Fleas and ticks are no fun for your pooch – they make them uncomfortable and can even transmit a variety of diseases. Applying flea or tick medicine to your dog can help, but even these medicines can be dangerous if not handled properly.

Video: How to Keep Ticks Off your Dog

How to Remove a Tick From a Dog

If your dog already has a tick, you’ll have to remove it before applying any future flea and tick medicine. Here’s what to do:

• Wearing gloves (to prevent any potential disease from being transmitted to you), grasp the tick with a set of tweezers.
• Get as close to your dog’s skin as possible, being careful not to pinch your dog’s skin.
• Pull outward in a straight and steady motion – the tick should come out. Do not twist or jerk the tick – pieces could fall off and remain stuck in your dog’s skin. Also void crushing the tick, since its inner fluids may be infected. Afterwards, make sure that you’ve removed the entire tick. If pieces of the tick stay in your dog’s skin, it could lead to an infection.

After removal…

• Keep the tick after removal. Put the tick into a sealed container with isopropyl alcohol. The alcohol will kill the tick. Write the date on the container and keep it for a few weeks in case your dog shows symptoms of illness. Keeping the tick will help the vet in testing for illness.

• Don’t forget to wash up! Clean your hands, clean the tweezers, and clean your dog’s skin with antiseptic.

When Should I Use Flea and Tick Medicine on My Dog?

Spring and summer are usually the worst time for fleas and ticks, but in some parts of the country, they are nuisance all year.

Types of Flea and Tick Prevention

The most popular products for preventing ticks and fleas are topical treatments that you apply to a pet’s outer coat. However, there are many other options available as well. Products can come in the form of:

• Topical Treatments
• Oral Medications
• Dips
• Shampoos
• Collars
• Sprayers

How to Safely Apply Flea and Tick Medicine

Talk with your vet before using flea or tick medicine on your pets, as some animals don’t react well to the medication. Pets you need to be especially careful with are:

• Elderly pets
• Sick animals
• Puppies or kittens
• Pets who are pregnant or nursing
• Pets that are already on existing medication

Others Things to Keep in Mind With Flea & Tick Medicine

• Read instructions carefully, and only use dog flea and tick medicine on a dog, and cat flea and tick medicine on a cat. Never use medicine on an animal other than the one it is intended for, as different insecticides can be fatal if used on the incorrect animal. For those who want to avoid intense chemicals, try natural flea and tick treatments.

• Only apply the recommended dosage – don’t double up by using multiple products (ex: topical treatment and a shampoo treatment).

• Wear gloves when you apply the flea and tick medicine, or wash your hands with soap after applying. Read instructions on proper application, storage, and disposal.

• After applying flea and tick medication, keep animals separated from one another (if you have multiple pets) to prevent them from grooming one another, and swallowing the chemicals as a result.

• Watch your pet carefully after applying the flea and tick medication. Some animals may have a bad reaction to the product, especially if it is their first time. Call a vet if you notice your pet is acting unusual or demonstrates a change in appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, or excessive salivation.

Video: Getting a Tick Off of Your Dog

Remember, while flea and tick medicine provides a major relief for pets, it is a kind of chemical poison and needs to be treated carefully.

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