by Kate Keith

Created on: November 29, 2008   Last Updated: December 23, 2008

Caring for you dog is much more than providing food, water and shelter - it is also ensuring that they are sound and healthy. One important aspect of caring for your dog is to make sure to check them daily during tick season. Ticks can hide without difficulty in your dog's fur and carry disease that can cause infection within 24-48 hours if not detected.

A tick check for your pet is as easy as giving them a rubdown - they won't even think of it as a check up! What dog doesn't love a little extra attention?

If you find your dog has picked up a tick, make sure to remove it right away - the longer they are embedded in the skin, the more likely your dog will develop an infection. If you feel at all uncomfortable doing the removal yourself, make an appointment to see your veterinarian. The doctor or a technician can walk you through the process so you can do it on your own the next time.

First of all, make sure wear a pair of gloves, like latex or dishwashing gloves - you don't know where these 'suckers' have been!

Using a pair of tweezers, grab the body of the tick as close to your dogs skin as possible. DO NOT crush the tick while it is still embedded in your dog's skin; a piece might break off in the skin and can cause infection. Gently, yet firmly, pull the tick from the skin. Discard of the tick by wrapping in tissue, crush and then flush down the toilet. Simply drowning a tick won't do the deed.

Wash your dog's skin with soap and warm water to prevent infection - however, keep an eye on the site for several days to ensure that infection has not already set in. Familiarize yourself with typical symptoms of tick infection or disease; sometimes it can take 7-21 days to appear.

As always, a measure of prevention is always in your pet's best interest. If you live in an area where tick population is high, consider asking your veterinarian about options for tick prevention. Collars and powders are considered fairly effective, but it is still important to make periodic checks as they are not always fail-safe.

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