You remove a tick from your dog by gripping the tick as close to the dog's skin as possible with a tick remover or fine tweezers and pulling it straight out with a calm, steady pull. You should not twist violently, squeeze the tick's body or coat it in anything first. The goal is to get the whole tick out, including the mouthparts, without crushing it. Below you'll find the entire step-by-step procedure, the typical mistakes you should avoid, and the signs that mean you should call your vet.
A tick is a small blood-sucking mite that bores its mouthparts into the skin and stays attached while it feeds. The faster you get it off, the better, but the most important thing is that you do it calmly and correctly rather than quickly and incorrectly.
How to remove the tick step by step
First, get the right tool ready. A tick remover or tick tool from the pet shop is the easiest, but fine-pointed tweezers can also be used if you are careful. It's a good idea to have a helper to keep the dog calm so it doesn't move in the middle of the pull.
Part the fur so you can see the tick clearly, and place the tool or tweezers right down at the surface of the skin, just around the tick's mouthparts. It is crucial that you grip as close to the skin as possible and not up on the tick's body itself. Then pull calmly and straight outwards with a steady, sustained pull. The tick usually releases after a couple of seconds. If you use a tick remover with a small fork, you can slide the fork in under the tick close to the skin and twist gently while you lift.
Once the tick is out, check whether the whole creature came along, including the small mouthparts. Then clean the spot with a little water and wash your hands. Keep an eye on the skin over the following days.
Mistakes to avoid when removing a tick
The most common mistake is to grip the tick's body instead of down at the skin. If you squeeze the body, you risk pressing the tick's stomach contents back into the dog, and that increases the risk of any infectious agents being transferred. Always grip as close to the skin as possible.
Another widespread misconception is to coat the tick in oil, spirits, nail polish remover, cream or similar in order to suffocate it before pulling it out. This is advised against, because a stressed tick may react by regurgitating more of its contents into the dog before it releases. Remove it mechanically with a tool or tweezers instead. Also don't burn the tick or try to twist it around violently, as if you were unscrewing it. A calm, straight pull is gentler and more effective.
What do you do if the head stays in?
It happens that the tick's body tears loose while the mouthparts stay in the skin. Many people mistakenly call this the "head", but it is the tick's mouthparts. If a small remnant stays behind, you can try to remove it gently with clean tweezers, in the same way you would remove a splinter. If you don't succeed, don't dig into the skin. In most cases the body itself pushes out the small remnant over the course of a few days, in the same way as a foreign particle. If the area becomes red, swollen or sore, or if you are in doubt, contact your vet.
How long does the tick stay attached, and how quickly should it come off?
A tick bores in and sucks blood over several days if allowed to. The shorter the time it stays attached, the lower the risk that it manages to transfer any infectious agents, which is why you should remove it as soon as you discover it. Conversely, that doesn't mean you should rush the job and tear the tick to pieces. Calm and the right technique matter more than seconds. If you want to know more about how long a tick can stay attached, you can read our guide on how long a tick stays attached to a dog
How to check your dog for ticks after every walk
Ticks are found especially in woodland, tall grass and scrub, so it's a good habit to feel over your dog every time you have been out in nature. Run your hands thoroughly through the fur and feel for small bumps ranging in size from a grain of sand to a pea. Pay particular attention to the places where the skin is thin and the fur short, that is, around the head, ears, eyes, neck, armpits, groin and between the toes. The sooner you find a tick, the easier it is to remove before it has fully attached.
A well-cared-for coat makes it easier to spot ticks early, and here daily nutrition plays a role. A supplement like THE OMEGA 3 OIL supports a healthy coat and skin, making it easier to feel the little uninvited guests when you run your hands through the fur. If you want to know more about what fish oil does for your dog, you can read our article on what fish oil is good for
When should you contact the vet?
Most ticks you can safely remove yourself at home. However, you should contact your vet if, in the days or weeks after a tick bite, the dog becomes lethargic, loses its appetite, develops a fever, starts limping or seems unwell, or if the bite site becomes clearly inflamed. If you are unsure whether you got the whole tick out, or if you are in doubt in general, it is always better to have a vet take a look at it. The vet can also advise on preventive tick products that suit your particular dog and your everyday life.
A stable and nourishing everyday routine gives your dog the best foundation for thriving, whatever the season. At ESSENTIAL FOODS our nutrition advisers are ready on the phone, chat or email if you want to talk through feeding and nutrition, so that your dog's daily meals support healthy skin and coat all year round. If you want to read more about how to give your dog the best conditions, you can delve into our guide on how to give your dog the best conditions for thriving.