How to remove ticks from your dog

Dogs can get ticks while playing outside in grassy or wooded areas. Ticks are a common external parasite of dogs. Once they attach to the dog, they greedily feed. Ticks survive on blood, and all life stages - larvae, nymphs, and both male and female adults - feed on blood. While feeding, ticks can also spread numerous diseases, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, Q fever, and Lyme disease.

Firstly, if your dog's tick infection is not severe, you can apply alcohol to the tick's head and the surrounding skin where the bite is. Once the tick is completely numbed, gently pull it out with tweezers. Be careful not to twist the tick's body, pull it out evenly to avoid the mouthpiece breaking in the dog's skin and causing inflammation.

Secondly, you can use tickicides containing ingredients such as non-pyrrolidine and methoprene to remove ticks. It's also essential to regularly deworm your dog to prevent parasite infections. Choose the appropriate deworming medication based on your dog's weight to avoid insufficient dosage and ineffective treatment. When taking your dog outside, try to avoid areas with tall grass and woods to reduce the chance of infection.

Lastly, if your dog shows symptoms of redness, swelling, and heat at the bite site after being infected with ticks, it's not recommended to handle it yourself at home. Take your dog to the vet promptly and let the doctor remove the ticks. After a tick bite, your dog may also be at risk of contracting blood diseases, so regular blood tests are necessary after removing the ticks. Treat any issues promptly.