How to Remove Ticks from Dogs

It's spring, and with spring comes flowers, warmer days and ticks. Yes, ticks - those nasty little devils that attach to dogs, dig in and don't let go until they're gorged.

If you take your dog on walks and venture anywhere with brush, grass or trees, you've probably had to deal with ticks. They're nasty, and they make your skin crawl with loathing, but they need to be dealt with in a safe and an effective manner.

The best way to keep ticks off your dog is to use an anti-tick medicine. Products like, Frontline are great at killing ticks before they're able to bite into your dog.

If, however, you haven't gotten around to protecting against ticks, and your pet has one attached, don't panic. There's a correct and an incorrect way to remove ticks.

Ticks will stay on a dog for days before they get their fill. It's not imperative that you remove the tick immediately. In fact, the more blood gorged they are, the easier they are to extract. This isn't saying you should leave them attached. The earlier you extract the tick, the less chance of infection, but you don't need to rush.

There are many myths about how to extract ticks from dogs. Some of the more common ones are: putting petroleum jelly on the tick, burning them off with the tip of a hot match, and spinning them counterclockwise. As entertaining as these methods are, the best way to remove a tick is much more straightforward.

Simply have a friend keep the dog occupied while you work to extract the tick. It's easier if your dog is tired and isn't much interested in what you're trying to do. Put a pair of gloves on, and grab a pair of tweezers.

Part the dogs' hair and use the tweezers to grab the tick as close to the dogs' skin as possible. You want to have the ticks' head in the tweezers. With a smooth steady motion pull the tick straight away from the dog. It will surprise you how tenacious they can be, but keep pulling until it pops loose.

Dispose of the tick by burning it, or flushing it down the toilet after being crushed. Burning it is a little harsh but can give you some satisfaction in a vengeful sort of way.

Thoroughly clean the tweezers by either soaking them in alcohol, scrubbing them with soap and hot water, or both. You may not want to use the same pair of tweezers on yourself or your children.

It's also a good idea to clean the spot where the tick was attached to the dog. Hopefully it was a clean extraction, but sometimes those little buggers hold on tight enough to pull off some skin. Rubbing an alcohol swab across the wound is helpful in preventing infection.

There's no need to save the ticks that have been on your dog unless there's a high incidence of Lyme's disease in your area. Otherwise it's OK to kill the ticks, unless you want to keep them for a pet.

Ticks are a nasty reality when you own a dog. Knowing the correct way to extract a tick can put your mind at ease when the time comes.