Check promptly
Ticks can be small and may feel like a seed or scab. Use good lighting and part long hair down to the skin.
Common hiding places
- Inside and behind ears
- Around eyelids and lips
- Under the collar and harness
- Armpits and groin
- Between toes and around nails
- Under the tail
Removal basics
Use fine-tipped tweezers or a veterinary-recommended tick tool. Grasp close to the skin and pull steadily without twisting or crushing. Clean the area and your hands. Save the tick in a sealed container or photograph it if your veterinarian recommends identification.
What not to use
Do not burn the tick or coat it with petroleum jelly, nail polish, or chemicals. These methods delay removal and may injure the pet.
Prevention still matters
Discuss a reliable preventive with the veterinarian and check the dog even when prevention is used.
Use a consistent inspection route
Run your fingers slowly against the direction of the coat and feel for small bumps. Check the head and ears, around the eyelids and lips, under the collar or harness, between the front legs, along the groin, around the tail, and between every toe. Long or dense coats may need to be separated with a comb and good lighting.
Remove an attached tick carefully
- Wear gloves when available.
- Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool close to the skin.
- Pull upward with steady, even pressure instead of twisting or crushing the tick.
- Clean the bite area and your hands.
- Save the tick in a sealed container or take a clear photo if your veterinarian advises identification.
Do not coat the tick with petroleum jelly, nail polish, alcohol, or heat. These methods can delay removal and may irritate the tick or the dog.
Monitor after removal
A small local bump may remain briefly, but call the veterinarian about increasing redness, swelling, discharge, pain, fever, loss of appetite, unusual tiredness, lameness, or other illness. Record the date and where the tick was likely acquired. Testing decisions depend on location, symptoms, preventive history, and the veterinarian’s assessment.
Make checks part of prevention
Tick checks are useful even when a preventive is used. Ask the veterinarian which product and schedule fit your dog, region, health history, and household. Never use a dog-only product on a cat, and follow weight and age restrictions exactly.
Frequently asked questions
What if part of the tick remains in the skin?
Do not dig aggressively. Clean the area, monitor it, and contact a veterinarian if irritation, swelling, pain, or illness develops.
Should I save the tick?
A photo or sealed container with the date can sometimes help identification, but local veterinary guidance determines whether testing is useful.