Finding And Removing Ticks

The best way to find ticks on your pet is to run your hands over the whole body. Check for ticks every time your pet comes back from an area you know is inhabited by ticks. Ticks attach most frequently around the pet’s head, ears, neck, and feet, but are by no means restricted to those areas.

If you find an embedded tick, do not simply grab its body and pull, as the tick’s barbed hypostome (feeding tube) may break off and remain in the bite. Applying chemicals or flame to the tick is not a good idea because, while it may make the tick let go, it can also cause the tick to spit blood back into the wound, possibly sending disease germs into the bloodstream in the process.

The best way to remove a tick is to use rubbing alcohol and a pair of hemostats or sharp tweezers. Dab rubbing alcohol on the tick, and then use the hemostats or tweezers to take hold of the tick as close to the dog’s skin as you can; pull slowly and steadily. Try to grab it where its mouth-parts enter the skin and pull gently without letting go. It will eventually releases its hold by withdrawing its barbed mouth-part from the skin.

Try not to leave the tick’s head embedded in the dog’s skin. Do not apply hot matches, petroleum jelly, turpentine, nail polish, or just rubbing alcohol alone (the tick must be pulled out after application of alcohol) because these methods do not remove the ticks and they are not safe for your pet.

Once you have removed a tick, do not try to crush it – unengorged ticks are flat and very hard to crush, while engorged ticks will burst and release blood. Instead, you should flush the tick down a drain or seal it in a jar. (It can be useful to keep the tick to show to a doctor in case you or your pet gets sick from the bite.) Some people kill and preserve ticks by dropping them into bottles of rubbing alcohol; if you do this, do not use the alcohol in that bottle for anything else.

After you pull a tick off, there will be a local area of inflammation that could look red, crusty, or scabby. The tick’s attachment causes irritation. The site can get infected; if the pet is scratching at it, it is more apt to get infected. A mild antibiotic, such as over-the-counter triple antibiotic ointment can help, but usually is not necessary. The inflammation should go down within a week. If it stays crusty and inflamed longer than a week, it might have become infected.

Although ticks can transmit diseases, they are usually nothing more than a nuisance. The best approach is to prevent them from embedding, and once embedded, to remove them quickly. As long as you stay on top of the situation, your pets should cruise right through the tick season with no problems.

sources: Veterinary Partner and Regional Pest Management

Preventing and Removing Ticks

Most people have a natural aversion to ticks. If one of the disgusting, blood sucking creatures (they belong to the spider family – arachnids rather than insects) lands anywhere on the body, you’ll see uncontrollable jumping, slapping oneself, brushing the clothing wildly, and cringing, possibly even screaming. “Ugh! A tick…get it off…get it off!”
(Pictured at right: Dog Tick, Deer Tick)
Ticks are not only gross, but they are dangerous to both humans and pets. They carry a number of diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Ticks are perfect breeding grounds for disease that can be transmitted with one tick imbedded into the skin.

Ticks don’t fly but they wait for a blood transfusion at the top of grass, bushes, shrubs, and plants. They crawl into trees and climb out on limbs waiting for an innocent child, dog, or other warm blooded animal to pass by. There are two things that attract ticks, one is body heat and the other is the carbon dioxide we exhale. It’s impossible to disguise these things as you’re walking or running through a grassy area.

Once the tick senses a warm body approaching, it moves its front legs into the air, getting ready. As you or your pet walk by, the tick grabs on and climbs onto the fur or skin. What is so disgusting is that the tick will crawl around for hours without you even knowing, looking for the perfect spot to dig in and start blood-sucking!

You probably don’t really want the gruesome details but here goes…once the tick finds a nice spot, it digs into the skin with its mouth. It has barbs that prevent the tick from falling off which is why it’s so hard to pull them off and usually the skin is pulled off with the tick. The tick not only has barbs but it makes its own glue that sets it into the skin. Gross…you bet!

Now that the tick is all settled in, it feeds on the blood of the unsuspecting pet or human for several days until it is a ‘bloated blob of blood’. Once the tick is totally bloated, it drops off the victim. You may have found a bloated tick on your kitchen floor after it is accidentally stepped on. It looks like a mashed up blueberry.

The reason ticks engorge themselves on blood is so than can make those wonderful tick babies. The tick lays tens of thousands of eggs before it dies. The eggs develop into larva, the nymph, and then the adult tick. Some ticks are miniscule and can only be seen with a magnifying glass while others are the size of a flat baby pea.

Most ticks found in the US are one of these types:

• American Dog Tick (pictured above)



• Lone Star Tick



• Deer Tick (pictured above)



• Brown Dog Tick



• Preventing Against Ticks

Make sure your lawn is mowed and pull any weeds growing in the area.
When walking your dog, keep to the middle of a path or trail. Try to avoid brushing against shrubs and bushes, especially when you’re in the woods.

When you get home from your walk, check your pet and your children for ticks. Start at the nose of the dog and continue all the way to the end of the tail. Make sure you check the ears. Ticks love ears, necks, and throats. Under your dog’s belly is another favorite tick spot.

If you find a tick, remove it right away. Don’t touch the tick. If it is not imbedded yet, use masking tape to get it off the body. Just fold the tape over the tick and throw it away. Don’t try to squash the tick; it could be carrying dangerous infections that are contagious.

An embedded tick is a little trickier to remove. Use tweezers to get a hold of the tick. Grab it as close to the skin as you can and pull it straight out. Avoid twisting it because it could break open and leave the mouth under the skin. If you don’t have tweezers, use paper or cloth to keep your fingers from touching the tick. The best way to get rid of a tick after you pull it out is to flush it down the toilet or put it in rubbing alcohol.

After removing the tick, wash the area with soap and water. Be sure to wash your hands, as well. In the past, people used to try and burn the tick or suffocate them with nail polish. These methods should NOT be used. They do not work effectively and they could harm the skin of your pet or child.
The best way to prevent ticks is to use a flea and tick product sold at most pet stores and veterinarian offices. I recommend Frontline. I use it for my two dogs every year and I haven’t seen a flea in years. Frontline also kills ticks if they do land on your pet. They will drop off and you’ll never have to touch them.

As far as people go, there isn’t a flea or tick product that lasts for a month, but a strong insect repellant with DEET will repel ticks and flying insects. Also, wear long pants when walking in the woods and keep the pant legs tucked into your socks. Most importantly, wear a hat to keep ticks out of the hair where they are hard to see. Wearing light colored clothing is also a good idea, so you can see the tick if it lands on you.

Hopefully, these suggestions will help keep your family and pets safe from the dangers of the blood-sucking ticks.

Preventing Ticks in Dogs, Removing Ticks From Your Dog Safely

As a dog owner, there are some basics you should know about the risks, prevention and removal of ticks. With proper knowledge, you can help protect your dog from the threat of ticks.

About Ticks

Ticks are parasitic arthropods that feed on the blood of their hosts. They are attracted to warmth and motion, often seeking out mammals – including dogs. Ticks tend to hide out in tall grass or plants in wooded areas waiting for prospective hosts. Once a host is found, the tick climbs on and attaches its mouthparts into the skin, beginning the blood meal. Once locked in place, the tick will not detach until its meal is complete. It may continue to feed for several hours to days, depending on the type of tick. On dogs, ticks often attach themselves in crevices and/or areas with little to no hair – typically in and around the ears, the areas where the insides of the legs meet the body, between the toes, and within skin folds. Most species of ticks go through four life stages – eggs, larvae, nymphs, and adults. All stages beyond eggs will attach to a host for a blood meal (and must do so on order to mature). Depending on species, the life span of a tick can be several months to years, and female adults can lay hundreds to thousands of eggs at a time. The following types of ticks are among the most common seen in North America:

• Deer tick


• Brown dog tick


• Lone star tick


• American dog tick

The Dangers of Ticks

Though they are known vectors of disease, not all ticks transmit disease – in fact, many ticks do not even carry diseases. However, the threat of disease is always present where ticks are concerned, and these risks should always be taken seriously. Most tick-borne diseases will take several hours to transmit to a host, so the sooner a tick is located and removed, the lower the risk of disease. The symptoms of most tick-borne diseases include fever and lethargy, though some can also cause weakness, lameness, joint swelling and/or anemia. Signs may take days, weeks or months to appear. Some ticks can cause a temporary condition called “tick paralysis,” which is manifested by a gradual onset of difficulty walking that may develop into paralysis. These signs typically begin to resolve after tick is removed. If you notice these or any other signs of illness in your dog, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible so that proper testing and necessary treatments can begin. The following are some of the most common tick-borne diseases:

• Lyme disease


• Ehrlichiosis


• Rocky Mountain spotted fever


• Anaplasmosis


• Babesiosis

Finding and Removing Ticks from Your Dog

To search for ticks on your dog, run your hands all over the body, paying close attention to the ears neck, skin folds and other crevices. . Closely examine any raised areas closely by parting the hair. Depending on species and life stage, a tick may be as small as a pencil point or as large as a lima bean (when engorged). If you live in an area where ticks are prevalent, or your dog spends a lot of time in high grasses or wooded areas, you should check for ticks once or twice a day.

If you find an embedded tick, be sure to remove it promptly.

Here’s how:

1. Wear latex gloves to protect yourself. Use a pair of tweezers or a specially-designed tick removal tool to grasp the tick at the point of attachment. This should be done as close to the skin as possible.


2. Be very careful not to squeeze the body of the tick, as this may cause bacteria and disease containing materials to be injected into the site.


3. Pull the tick straight out from the skin slowly and steadily (without twisting or turning). Some of your dog’s skin may come off with the tick, but this is normal. If bleeding occurs, apply light pressure to the area.


4. Once removed, the tick should be handled carefully. While some people prefer to flush ticks down the toilet, saving the tick for further identification is a good idea. Place the tick in a small airtight container (like a pill vial or jar). You may wish to add some rubbing alcohol to the container. Label the container with the date and store in case future illness occurs, as identification may become necessary.


5. If part of the tick’s head still appears to be embedded, use the tweezers to gently pull it out. If some of the head cannot be removed, do not become alarmed. This should fall off eventually and rarely causes complications.


6. After tick removal, clean your dog’s skin at the bite area with mild soap and water. Watch this spot for several days in case of further irritation or infection. If the area does not clear up in a few days, contact your veterinarian.

There are really no shortcuts that can make a tick release itself from its host – a tick will not voluntarily detach until its meal is complete. DO NOT apply hot matches, nail polish, petroleum

jelly, alcohol or other chemicals to the site. These methods are not affective and can actually be harmful to your dog.

Tick Prevention for Dogs

The best way to protect your dog from the hazards of ticks is to keep them from attaching to your dog in the first place. As stated earlier, routine checks should be done to search for ticks on your dog. Finding them before they attach is helpful, but this is not the most accurate method of prevention. To reduce the number of ticks hiding out in your yard, keep grass mowed and plants neatly trimmed. You may also choose to treat outdoor areas with pesticides, but be sure to use a substance that is safe for dogs and preferably environmentally-friendly. One of the most effective ways to keep ticks off your dog is to directly apply a tick prevention product specifically designed for dogs. Topical products like Frontline, Revolution, Advantix, and bioSpot are designed to be applied monthly to prevent ticks. Another option is a tick collar, such as the Preventic collar.  Though approved for use on dogs, be aware that these products contain toxic components and should ALWAYS be used according to the directions. Do not use extra amounts of a product or apply more than one at the same time. Take note that most of these products are highly toxic to cats. Talk to your veterinarian about the best options for your dog’s lifestyle. Also be aware that not all products will work for every dog, so a bit of trial and error may be in order. With the proper knowledge, you can help defeat the dreaded tick and protect your dog, your family and yourself from the dangers of tick-borne diseases.

Tuesday"s tip # 25 Removing Ticks

Thanks to a lot of the topical flea and tick spot-on treatments, I don’t see very many ticks on dogs anymore.

If we find one it is usually in the tub, once the dog is wet.

If we miss one in the tub, the HV will defiantly find them.

Most of the ticks that we find are the common Brown Dog Tick, or the American Dog Tick.

Sometimes they are already dead or close to it, because of the spot-on treatment, and can be picked off very easily.

Other ticks may have recently attached themselves, and can also be removed fairly easily.

When bathing a Shih-Tzu the other day, my son found this female tick, engorged with blood.

This was the first time he had seen a female tick that was as big as this one.

She was so full of blood, she was just about ready to fall off.

I told him to lift her up and see if the male tick was still under her.

Sure enough, there he was.

If you come across a female tick, there will almost always be a male under her. 

A female American, Brown, and Deer Tick will change size and color as she feeds and becomes engorged.

This is a female, American Dog Tick that is fully engorged on blood.

The brown and tan shield, just above her mouth, gives her away as a American Dog Tick.

The female Brown Dog Tick has a solid black shield, with a short mouth.

The female Deer Tick also has a solid black shield, but has a longer mouth.

The length of the mouth is one of the only ways you can tell a female Brown Dog Tick and Deer Tick apart when they are engorged.

Before removing a tick, I like to soak a cotton ball with alcohol and hold it on top of the tick for a few minutes.

Sometimes the alcohol makes the tick loosen its grip, and helps you to pull the tick off a little more easily.

Get your fingers as close to the ticks mouth and the dogs skin as possible.

Slowly pull up and twist a little at the same time.

I have found that I have much more control removing ticks with my fingers then with tweezers. 

I don’t recommend tweezers, the pressure of the tweezers can sometimes cut through, and separate the body and head before you have completely removed the tick.

I have seen tick removers out there, but to be honest, I have never tried one.

The female has been feeding for a while, and has caused a sore to develop.

Repeat the removal process with the male tick.

(The female tick looked similar to the male before she started feeding.)

This ticks back is tan and black.

It is an American Dog Tick.

These ticks can carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

They do not carry Lyme disease.

 Both ticks have left a sore.

I clean the sores with Peroxide.

*Tips: ~Always tell an owner when you have pulled a tick of off their dog.

~Show them the spot if you can.

~If you think the tick could possibly be a Deer Tick, scotch tape it to an index card, and give it to the owner so that they can check with their Vet.

~Let them know that the sore will develop a scab, and most times a very large scab.

~Also let them know that the scab may be there for a few weeks before it falls off.

Before the spot-on treatments, I used to get dogs in that were covered with ticks.

When I used to clip before the bath, I would be clipping a dog and suddenly panic because I saw blood.

Let me tell you, it was no fun when your blade hit one of those engorged female ticks.

Talk about nasty and bloody.

I also had a Shepherd puppy come in once covered in ticks.

When I say covered, I mean covered.

You could not even count all of them.

We even found about 30 baby ticks in the webbing between each of his toes.

We found out later that the owner was keeping the puppy out in his wood shed.

Ugh!

One other thing, when my white St. Poodle was around a year old, she rolled over for me to scratch her belly and I found a perfectly round bulls eye mark on the inside of her thigh.

There was no tick, just the bulls eye.

I took her straight to my Vet and he confirmed my fears about a Deer Tick bite.

He said it was a text book Deer Tick bulls eye.

He also said that it was the first time that he has seen one so clear and perfectly formed on a dog.

He had all of his Techs come in and have a look.

Thankfully I found it in time.

So, whenever I find something similar on a dog, I tell the owner to have the dog tested for Lyme.

It is always better to be safe then sorry. 

Happy Grooming, MFF

Step-by-step direction of removing tick from a pet

Featured Blog

Usually pet owner panics at the sight of a tick and they are really worried regarding what to do. Removing ticks is a tricky task as if there is some loophole then it will surely harm the dog. More th… more →

Indianpetstore

Eight Legged Uglies

adelineoh wrote 2 months ago: Ugly arachnids, you crawl hurriedly away as the broom sweeps past; Rust coloured, running around loo … more →

Tags: Poetry, parasites

Animal Paralysis due to Ticks?

janegwalker wrote 5 months ago: If you read this blog, you know that I am a huge dog lover (come on, look at that face). I make sure … more →

Tags: barrier sprays, Life cycle of the tick, Mosquito Barrier Spray, Mosquito control, mosquito misting, mosquito squad, Mosquito-Borne Illnesses & Diseases, Tick Protection, Tick Tubes

Top Spot Flea and Tick Control for Dogs

DoggieDocs.com wrote 11 months ago: Merial Frontline Top Spot Flea and Tick Control for Dogs Features: Fast-acting, long-lasting flea an … more →

Tags: flea, ticks

I’d Sure Not Like To — 4 comments

Southern Jane wrote 1 year ago: Check you for ticks!!! YUK!!! I’ve never – ever in my life – had a tick on my body … more →

Tags: Baby, Me – We – Us, TV Shows, animals, Parenting, kids, sleeping, first foods, South

How To Remove Dog Ticks

howtoremovedogticks wrote 1 year ago: Useful Tips To Help You Train Your Puppy You imagined delivering home Lassie, but you could have a d … more →

Tags: How To Remove Dog Ticks, How to Remove Dog Ticks, remove dog ticks

Confessions of a serial tick killer — 2 comments

hillnholler wrote 1 year ago: Somewhere in the Ozarks — It all began when I was a young child, maybe 7 or 8. My parents had come d … more →

Tags: Humor, ozarks, Outlander, ticks, Cigarette, Seed ticks, Fingernails, Alcohol, squishing

Change Of Seasons — 1 comment

Cindy Lee Durner wrote 1 year ago: Here in New England, Summer turning into Fall brings cooler temperatures, gorgeous colors, tasty app … more →

Tags: Pet Medical Issues, Dogs, Cats, Dog Allergies, cat allergies, dog fleas

Dog Ticks

petnutrient wrote 2 years ago: Ticks are an indisputably the dreaded enemy on our dogs. None of one of you dog lovers want to find … more →

Tags: Dog Health, ticks prevention

Itch — 4 comments

thismomisalwayswrite wrote 2 years ago: That’s what it was. Just a little itch that woke me up Sunday morning. I lay in bed listening … more →

Tags: Fun, Life, Parenting, Family, Humor, Pet Care, summer, Insect bites, ticks

Bicyclists…It’s Tick Season

uninvitedguests wrote 2 years ago: After two weekends of enduro racing and a tough week last week that included lots of hard digging on … more →

Tags: News, Promos & What’s Up, Bedbugs, Ticks & Fleas, Residential Pest Control, pest control, bugs, infestation, Commercial, exterminator, Public Health

For Boston hotels, dogs lead the charge in finding bed bugs — 2 comments

uninvitedguests wrote 2 years ago: “A dog’s keen sense of smell can detect bed bugs in all crevasses quickly while it takes … more →

Tags: News, Promos & What’s Up, Bedbugs, Ticks & Fleas, Bedbugs, Commercial 2, Foodservice, Food & Beverage Processing, Healthcare, Hospitality, Property Management

Tick season in Chelmsford

uninvitedguests wrote 2 years ago: By Monica Jimenez / Wicked Local Chelmsford GateHouse News Service Posted May 18, 2011 @ 08:31 AM Ch … more →

Tags: News, Promos & What’s Up, Bedbugs, Ticks & Fleas, Residential Pest Control, pest control, bugs, infestation, Commercial, exterminator, Public Health

Tick season has begun!

uninvitedguests wrote 2 years ago: Taking care of fleas and ticks on your pet Brown Dog Tick http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/f … more →

Tags: News, Promos & What’s Up, Bedbugs, Ticks & Fleas, pest control, infestation, Commercial, exterminator, Public Health, Itchy, biting bugs

Tick Suppression by your lawn care professional — 2 comments

MrGrass wrote 2 years ago: Creating a safe play area around your home against ticks is smart While most people are generally aw … more →

Tags: Bugs, Lawn Pests, Insects, Misc, Lawn Care Companies, chipper’s, ticks, Lyme Disease, nh ticks, vt ticks, ticks in lawn

Next →

Removing Ticks Early is Essential for Old Dog Care

Were you and your old dog able to get in one last walk through the woods before the snow started to fly? Depending on where you live in the United States, wood tick and deer tick season can be over as the little critters can be snow covered by now or the season can be in full force. I have heard that after a certain time in the spring or fall, one does not have to worry about ticks as it is not “tick season”. Funny thing is, our senior dog would find ticks (or the ticks would find him) at all times of the year unless there was snow on the ground. In his later years, he had to be treated for Lyme’s Disease due to tick exposure.

We learned from our experience that tick prevention is best for senior dog care but proper tick removal may have reduced the risk of infection if it had been found early. So what is the best way to remove a tick whenever you find one on your old dog?

• Use fine-tipped tweezers and protect bare hands with a tissue or gloves to avoid contact with tick fluids.

• 
  Get a firm hold on the tick close to the skin. Try not to twist or jerk the tick out, as this may cause the mouthparts to break off and remain in the skin which can lead to an infection.

• 
    Gently pull the tick straight up until all parts of the tick are removed.

After removing the tick, be sure to wash your hands with soap and water or waterless alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Clean the tick bite site with an antiseptic such as iodine scrub, rubbing alcohol or other wound cleaner.

Copyright 2011 OldDogPaws.com

How To: Removing A Tick For The First Time

So while sitting down to watch the Jubilee Concert, we discovered CJ had a massive tick on her front leg. We assumed she must have picked it up whilst running around up on The Downs earlier, but after a quick browse on the Internet, it was clear we had to remove it.

Words like “disease”, “infection”, “permanent disability” sent Helen into a mini panic mode and instead of trying to find an emergency vet on a Bank Holiday Tuesday, I proposed we did ourselves.

A quick tutorial on YouTube later and we had CJ in the conservatory ready for the removal. However she was quite awake having been chasing us around The Downs earlier on and was in no mood to lie still.

A dog owner with a Newfoundland who’d we’d met had suggested Piriton (an antihistamine) to make her dozy for when we trim her, so we decided now would be the perfect time to try this theory out. One tablet and 30 minutes later, CJ was quite willing to lie down and let us take a look.

It was quite a big tick and despite several articles saying I shouldn’t use them, I grabbed a pair of tweezers, grabbed around the head, rotated and pulled it. As far as I could see, I got the whole thing, pincers and all and CJ barely even noticed. Two days later and there doesn’t appear to be any residing illness or effects.

Win.

About these ads

removing ticks from dogs « AHFP Connect

November 21, 2011

Ticks and your dog.

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: removing ticks from dogs — Dr. Beth @ 2:56 pm

Did you know that you could find a tick on your dog any time of the year? While most ticks are found outside, some species can live inside your home or kennel. Ticks are much larger than fleas or lice and move slowly. Once the tick starts to feed, they attach to your pet and do not move until they are done feeding, which could be several days. As the female tick feeds on your dog’s blood, she may increase her weight by over 100 times. The bites are usually painless to the dog.

Ticks can spread diseases such as Lyme disease, or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

You can prevent ticks from attaching to your dog by using products such as Frontline Plus or Preventic Collars. Over the counter flea and tick collars do not work very well.

To remove a tick from your dog you should use fine pointed tweezers to grasp the tick close to the skin and gently pull free. Applying rubbing alcohol to the tick, or squirt the spray starter fluid (which is ether) onto a swab and rub the tick may help to loosen it’s mouthparts first. NEVER REMOVE A TICK WITH YOUR BARE FINGERS! You could expose yourself to a disease that the tick was carrying.

Attached female tick.

Comments (0)