How to Remove a Tick From a Dog Safely

How to Remove a Tick From a Dog at a Glance

Remove an attached tick promptly, but take enough time to position your dog and the tweezers safely.

1. Move your dog to a bright and quiet place.
2. Ask another person to help when useful.
3. Put on disposable gloves when available.
4. Part the fur completely around the tick.
5. Use clean fine-tipped tweezers.
6. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
7. Pull slowly with steady, even pressure.
8. Do not twist, jerk or squeeze the tick’s body.
9. Place the tick in a sealed container.
10. Clean the bite area and your hands.
11. Check your dog for additional ticks.
12. Monitor the skin and your dog afterward.

Contact a veterinarian when the tick is attached close to the eye, deep inside the ear, inside the mouth or in another location where it cannot be removed safely.

What Do You Need to Remove a Tick From a Dog?

Prepare everything before positioning your dog.

• Clean fine-tipped tweezers or an appropriate tick-removal tool
• Disposable gloves
• Bright, even lighting
• A comb or hair clips for long fur
• Clean gauze or tissue
• A sealed container or adhesive tape
• A veterinary-approved skin-cleaning product when recommended
• Treats to reward calm behaviour
• A second person when useful

Fine-tipped tweezers

Fine tips make it easier to grasp the tick near its mouthparts and close to the dog’s skin.

Broad or blunt tweezers may press on the swollen body rather than reaching the attachment point.

Tick-removal tool

A suitable commercial tick-removal tool may be used according to its instructions.

Different tools have different designs. Follow the manufacturer’s directions rather than assuming every tool should be used in the same way as tweezers.

Disposable gloves

Wear gloves when possible to avoid direct contact with the tick, the bite area and any fluids.

Wash your hands afterward even when gloves were used.

Good lighting

Bright, even lighting helps you distinguish the tick’s body from its attachment point.

Do not shine a strong light directly into your dog’s eyes.

A second person

One person can calmly support and reward the dog while the other parts the fur and removes the tick.

The helper should not pin the dog down or hold its neck tightly.

How to Prepare Your Dog for Tick Removal

A calm and stable position makes removal safer for both you and your dog.

Choose a quiet place

Move away from other pets, children, loud sounds and distractions.

Let the dog stand, sit or lie naturally

Choose the position that gives you a clear view without forcing the dog onto its back.

Begin with normal handling

Stroke the dog and move gradually toward the area where the tick is attached.

Use treats

Offer small treats before and during the procedure when this helps the dog remain relaxed.

Support the body gently

A helper can keep one hand near the chest or shoulder while calmly reassuring the dog.

Watch for signs of stress

Pause if your dog:

• Growls
• Shows its teeth
• Repeatedly turns toward your hand
• Tries to escape
• Freezes rigidly
• Cries or shows signs of pain
• Attempts to bite

Seek veterinary assistance when the dog cannot be handled safely.

How to Remove a Tick From a Dog Step by Step

Use slow and controlled movements throughout the procedure.

1. Wash your hands and put on gloves

Clean your hands and wear disposable gloves when available.

2. Position your dog comfortably

Make sure the dog is stable and that you can reach the tick without leaning across the animal or pulling on a limb.

3. Expose the entire tick

Part the fur until you can see the tick’s body and the point where it enters the skin.

Use a comb or hair clips when helpful. Avoid cutting close to an unidentified bump.

4. Check that it is a tick

Look for a separate oval or rounded body and small legs near the front or sides.

Do not pull at a nipple, skin tag, scab, wart or other unidentified skin feature.

5. Identify the attachment point

Look for the narrow area where the front of the tick meets the dog’s skin.

The larger oval or rounded section is the body. Avoid gripping that part when possible.

6. Place the tweezers close to the skin

Position the fine tips around the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.

Take care not to pinch the dog’s skin or trap fur between the tweezer tips.

7. Grip the tick securely

Use enough pressure to maintain a controlled grip without unnecessarily crushing the body.

8. Pull slowly and steadily

Pull the tick outward using slow, steady and even pressure.

Do not jerk the tweezers. When using standard fine-tipped tweezers, avoid deliberately twisting the tick.

9. Continue until the tick releases

Maintain steady pressure rather than repeatedly releasing and re-gripping the tick.

10. Move the tick away from the dog

Place it directly into a sealed container or secure it in adhesive tape.

Do not leave it loose on the floor, furniture or grooming surface.

11. Inspect the attachment site

Make sure the main body is no longer attached. A tiny dark point may remain if part of the mouthparts has broken off.

12. Clean the area

Clean the skin according to veterinary guidance. Use only products known to be safe for dogs.

13. Clean the tweezers

Clean the removal tool according to its instructions and wash your hands thoroughly.

14. Reward your dog

Offer calm praise and a treat. This can make future coat checks easier.

What Should You Avoid When Removing a Tick?

Do not squeeze the swollen body

Grasp close to the skin rather than around the enlarged abdomen.

Do not pull suddenly

A sharp or uncontrolled movement can make the tweezers slip or break the tick.

Do not twist standard tweezers

Pull steadily when using fine-tipped tweezers. Follow the instructions supplied with a commercial removal tool if it uses a different method.

Do not burn the tick

Do not use a match, lighter, heated needle or another hot object near your dog.

Do not cover the tick with household substances

Do not apply petroleum jelly, oil, nail polish, glue or similar substances in an attempt to make the tick release.

Do not crush it with bare fingers

Avoid touching or squeezing the removed tick with unprotected hands.

Do not cut around the tick

Never use scissors, nail clippers or a blade to cut an attached tick from the skin.

Do not force a frightened dog

A struggling dog can be injured and may bite. Ask a veterinarian for help instead.

Do not delay removal for exact species identification

A photograph may be useful, but a clearly identified attached tick should be removed promptly.

When Should a Veterinarian Remove the Tick?

Some locations and circumstances make professional removal safer.

Tick on or near the eyelid

Sudden movement can cause an eye injury. Contact a veterinarian when the tick is attached directly to the eyelid or very close to the eye.

Tick deep inside the ear

Do not insert tweezers, cotton swabs, fingers or camera accessories into the ear canal.

Tick inside the mouth

Seek veterinary help when a tick is attached to the gums, tongue, lips or another difficult area inside the mouth.

Tick between tightly closed toes

Contact a veterinarian if the dog appears painful, will not allow the paw to be handled or the tick cannot be reached clearly.

Tick in a painful or inflamed area

Swelling, discharge, severe redness or pain may make removal more difficult and could indicate another problem.

Several attached ticks

A veterinary examination is advisable when many ticks are present or some cannot be reached safely.

Very small tick level with the skin

A tiny tick may be difficult to grip without pinching the dog’s skin.

Dog cannot remain still

Do not continue when sudden movement makes the procedure unsafe.

Dog has a history of biting

Professional handling may be safer than attempting restraint at home.

The lump may not be a tick

A veterinarian should inspect a bump that could be a nipple, skin tag, wart, mole, cyst or other skin growth.

What If the Tick Breaks During Removal?

A small portion of the mouthparts can sometimes remain in the skin.

Do not panic

The main body has been removed, which is the most important immediate step.

Inspect the area in bright light

A retained fragment may appear as a tiny dark point or splinter.

Remove it only when it is easy to grasp

If the fragment is clearly visible and can be reached without digging into the skin, clean fine-tipped tweezers may sometimes be used.

Do not dig into the skin

Repeated digging can cause pain, bleeding, irritation and infection.

Keep the area clean

Use only a veterinary-approved cleaning method or a product your veterinarian has confirmed is safe.

Prevent licking and scratching

Watch your dog and prevent repeated licking, chewing or scratching of the bite area.

Contact a veterinarian if the area worsens

Seek veterinary advice if redness, swelling, heat, pain or discharge increases.

Tick Mouthparts Left in the Skin: What to Do →

What Should You Do After Removing the Tick?

After removal, clean the area, document the bite and check your dog for more ticks.

Clean the attachment site

Follow veterinary guidance and avoid using human skin products unless they have been confirmed as safe for your dog.

Wash your hands

Wash thoroughly after handling the tick, tweezers or bite area.

Record the date

Note when the tick was found and removed.

Record the bite location

Write down the exact location, such as the left ear, neck, front paw or groin.

Take photographs

Photograph the tick and the attachment site in bright, even lighting.

Check the entire dog

Finding one tick does not mean there are no others.

Inspect:

• In and around the ears
• Around the eyes and muzzle
• Under the collar and harness
• Beneath the front legs
• The chest and belly
• The groin
• All four legs
• The paws and spaces between the toes
• The base and underside of the tail

Check collars and bedding

Inspect the collar, harness, blankets, carrier and bedding for crawling ticks.

Monitor the skin

Watch for increasing redness, swelling, pain, heat or discharge.

Monitor your dog’s health

Contact a veterinarian if your dog becomes unusually tired, loses its appetite, develops weakness, lameness, pain, fever or another concerning change.

What to Do After Removing a Tick

Should You Keep the Removed Tick?

You may photograph the tick or keep it temporarily in a sealed container.

Photograph it clearly

Use a plain background and take an image showing the upper surface of the tick.

Use a sealed container

Keep the tick securely contained and away from children and pets.

Label the container

Include the removal date, bite location and geographic area where exposure may have occurred.

Ask your veterinarian

Your veterinarian can advise whether identification or testing has any practical value in your location and situation.

Do not rely on tick testing alone

A pathogen detected in a tick does not prove that it was transmitted to the dog. A negative result also does not replace observation or veterinary assessment.

Should You Keep the Tick After Removal? →

How to Dispose of a Tick Safely

Do not crush the tick with bare fingers.

Possible options include:

• Placing it in a sealed container
• Wrapping it securely in adhesive tape
• Placing it in alcohol
• Following another method recommended by your veterinarian

Do not leave a live tick loose in a bin, on a grooming table or near your dog’s bedding.

How to Dispose of a Tick Safely →

When Should You Contact a Veterinarian?

Contact a veterinarian when removal cannot be completed safely or your dog develops concerning changes.

Seek veterinary advice if:

• The tick is near the eye or deep inside the ear
• The tick is attached inside the mouth
• Your dog will not allow safe handling
• Several ticks are attached
• The attachment site becomes increasingly swollen
• The area is painful, hot or produces discharge
• Your dog becomes unusually tired
• Your dog stops eating
• Your dog develops weakness or difficulty walking
• Your dog begins limping
• Your dog appears feverish or generally unwell
• You are unsure whether the lump is a tick

Seek urgent veterinary care for severe symptoms

Seek urgent help if your dog develops breathing difficulty, collapse, rapidly progressing weakness, loss of coordination or another serious neurological change.

Tell the veterinarian about the tick

Provide the removal date, attachment location, likely exposure area and any photographs you took.

Do not give human medication

Do not give antibiotics, painkillers or other human medicines unless specifically prescribed by a veterinarian.

How to Prevent Your Dog From Licking the Bite

Some dogs repeatedly lick or chew an irritated attachment site.

Observe the dog closely

Redirect licking as soon as it begins.

Keep the area clean and dry

Follow your veterinarian’s advice regarding cleaning and bathing.

Do not apply bitter sprays directly to the bite

Products designed to discourage licking may irritate broken skin. Ask your veterinarian before applying anything near the area.

Use protective equipment only when needed

A veterinary cone or other protective device may be recommended if repeated licking prevents healing.

Ask about persistent irritation

Contact a veterinarian if the dog continues licking, biting or scratching the area.

How to Check Your Dog for More Ticks

Complete a systematic head-to-tail check after removing the first tick.

Start at the head

Inspect the forehead, muzzle, chin, eyelids and both ears.

Remove the collar and harness

Check all skin and fur covered by straps.

Run your hands over the body

Feel for small, firm or seed-like bumps beneath the coat.

Inspect the armpits and groin

These warm, protected areas are easy to overlook.

Check every paw

Look around the paw pads and between the toes.

Finish with the tail

Inspect the base, sides, underside and surrounding coat.

Common Mistakes When Removing a Tick From a Dog

Gripping the swollen abdomen

Place fine-tipped tweezers close to the skin rather than around the widest part of the tick.

Pulling too quickly

Use slow and steady pressure instead of a sudden jerk.

Twisting with ordinary tweezers

Pull steadily unless the instructions for a specific removal tool state otherwise.

Using petroleum jelly or oil

Do not coat the tick with household substances before removal.

Trying to burn the tick

Heat can injure the dog and is not an appropriate removal method.

Touching the tick with bare hands

Wear gloves and wash your hands after handling it.

Pulling at an unidentified lump

Nipples, skin tags and other growths can be mistaken for ticks.

Forcing a frightened dog

Stop and seek veterinary assistance when safe handling is not possible.

Forgetting to inspect the rest of the coat

More than one tick may be present.

Ignoring later symptoms

Continue monitoring the dog even after the tick has been removed successfully.