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Removing ticks from dogs – helpful tips & tricks
Mai
They lurk in tall grasses, bushes and undergrowth: ticks. The annoying and sometimes dangerous parasites tend to settle on your dog's fur when it roams through nature. Once it has been “bitten” and sucked on, there is only one thing left to do: remove the tick from the dog. If you have discovered an unpleasant guest on your dog's fur after a walk, it is important that you remove the tick quickly and carefully.
But why is it so important to remove a tick from your dog immediately, what do you need and what is the best way to do it? We'll tell you this in the following article.
Why remove a tick from a dog?
Ticks Unfortunately, they are not just annoying fellows. Some of them transmit bacterial and viral diseases that can quickly have serious health consequences for your furry friend. So once a tick starts sucking blood, the risk that it will transmit pathogens into the dog's bloodstream increases. It is therefore very important that you remove a tick from your dog as quickly as possible in order to reduce the duration of contact and thus the risk of infection. The goal when removing a tick is always to remove it as completely as possible and without leaving any residue. As a rule, once a tick has started to suck blood, it enlarges quite quickly. In this case, this actually benefits you, because a tick that has already reached the size of a pea is easier to remove than a small, freshly bitten tick. Sometimes you can wait a moment, but you should always act quickly if possible and remove the tick from your dog.
What do I need to remove a tick from my dog?
Every dog owner should have at least the basic equipment for removing ticks. Removing a tick on a dog with your fingernail is not a good idea, as there is a high risk that it will not be completely removed or that bacteria will enter the wound. Therefore it shouldn't be an option for you. Instead, today there are special tools and materials that you can buy in any well-stocked pet store or drugstore.
- Tick tweezers or tweezers: Special tick tweezers or fine tweezers are ideal for grabbing the tick close to the mouth area without squeezing it.
- Lupe: If available, a magnifying glass can help you better see the tick and its exact location, especially if it is very small.
- Protective gloves: Wear gloves to avoid direct contact with the tick and to protect yourself from possible pathogens.
- Disinfectants: Prepare a disinfectant to clean the bite site using wipes or cotton balls after removing the tick from the dog.
- Airtight container or alcohol: If you want to keep the tick for examination, you should pack it in an airtight container. Ideally, document the date and location of the bite.
This is how tick pulling works on your dog
Ready to remove the tick from your dog? The following steps will show you how to do this correctly. One thing in advance: In principle, it doesn't matter whether you twist or pull the tick to remove it. The main thing is to remove them completely. When turning, it is important that you proceed carefully but powerfully. Whether turned to the right or left doesn't matter. The same applies when pulling. It's better to do it cautiously and cautiously than suddenly.
Preparation
Have all your equipment ready: tweezers or tick tweezers, disinfectant, gloves, cleaning wipes and a container if you want to keep the tick.
Calm your dog and make sure he stays calm for the moment while pulling the tick. You may need a second person to help you hold your dog. When it's all over, the obligatory reward in the form of your favorite treat shouldn't be missing.
Expose the tick
To get better access to the tick, part the fur at the bite site and gently press down the hair around it. Hold the hair down with one hand while pulling.
Position the tweezers or tick tweezers
Grab the tick as close to your dog's skin as possible with tweezers or tick tweezers. The goal is to grab the tick just above its mouthparts to ensure the entire body is removed.
Remove the tick
Pull or twist out the tick slowly and steadily. Avoid pulling the tick too abruptly. This can result in the head not being removed and getting stuck in the skin. But still, a certain amount of force is necessary because once bitten, ticks hold on very tightly.
Tick tweezers for removing ticks from dogs usually have a special mechanism. In this case, follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Disinfect the bite site
After removing the tick from the dog, clean the bite site thoroughly with a disinfectant. This helps prevent the risk of infections.
Discard or retain for examination
Dispose of the tick safely by soaking it in alcohol or placing it in an airtight bag and disposing of it with household waste. If you are concerned about the diseases it carries, you can also keep the tick in a container and take it to your veterinarian for an examination.
After removing ticks, observe your dog
Afterwards, keep an eye on the bite site and your dog's general well-being over the next few weeks. Watch for signs of infection or illness, such as redness, swelling, lethargy, or fever, and consult a veterinarian if necessary.
My dog won't let me pull the tick. What now?
If your dog refuses to have the tick removed and acts restless, it is important that you remain calm and patient. You can try calming him with your gentle voice or giving him his favorite treats while you do this. But avoid hectic movements. You may want to get support from a second person who can stroke and hold your dog reassuringly.
If your dog regularly has difficulty removing ticks, it may also make sense to gradually get him used to it and train him.
If nothing helps and your dog continues to react very anxiously or even aggressively when removing ticks, you should seek professional help. Veterinarians or professional dog groomers often have more experience dealing with difficult situations and can safely remove the tick.
What if your head gets stuck while pulling a tick?
If you are removing a tick from your dog and the head gets stuck in the skin, it is important to remain calm. In many cases, the dog's body will reject the foreign body on its own. However, it is important that you keep the area clean and disinfected to avoid possible infection.
Monitor the bite site in the following days for signs of inflammation, such as redness, swelling, or pus formation. If such symptoms occur, see your veterinarian. The vet can safely remove the remaining part of the tick and, if necessary, initiate treatment for infections.
Should I go to the vet after tick removal?
After removing a tick, it is usually not necessary to seek immediate veterinary care as long as the tick has been completely removed and there are no visible symptoms of infection or disease.
However, it is important to continue to monitor the bite site and look for signs of mentioned symptoms such as redness, swelling or pus formation. If these appear, it is advisable that you consult your veterinarian. If you have any questions or are unsure, you can of course contact them immediately after removing the tick from your dog.
When is it better to have a tick removed from a dog by a specialist?
It is advisable to have a tick removed by a veterinarian or groomer if you are unsure how to remove it safely or if your dog is very fearful or aggressive. This is the only way you can avoid removing ticks from your dog from regularly becoming stressful for you and your four-legged friend. Tip: Before you go for a walk in the warm seasons, you can take some preventative measures to reduce the risk of ticks. You can find out what these are in our article “Black cumin oil for dogs”.
And ours too ZEFLOMIL ULTRA can become a natural support in the warm season. Try it!
Do you already have the other posts in ours? Blog read? Here you will find detailed articles on the following topics:
Nutritional supplements for puppies
You will also find out why dietary supplements for dogs could make sense and what you can do with it Arthrose can do for your furry friend!
