by John Krutz

Created on: November 29, 2008   Last Updated: December 04, 2010

Ticks should be a concern for everyone, but especially for people who have dogs that go outside. Ticks are small parasitic insects that feed off the blood of their host and can transmit diseases. If you own a dog that spends any amount of time outside the house you need to check it for ticks regularly. Follow these tips for removal if you ever find a tick on your dog.

First, you must remove the tick immediately. Never put a lotion, cream or anything on the tick that may cause it to remove itself over time. Ticks can transmit diseases quickly once they are embedded in your dog, so quick hands on removal is the best course of action.

Tweezers or tick removers should be used to pull the tick out of your dog. If you use tweezers get a firm hold on the tick without crushing it. Pull the tick straight back and out of the dog. Make sure you pull out the entire tick. Body parts are easy to recognize if they are left behind, but the mouthparts of the tick are small and white. The easiest way to see if you got the mouthparts out is to look at the tick itself and you should be able to see them. Tick removers look a lot like a small crowbar, that have a small v-shaped section in them to aid in tick removal. Simply place the cut out v-area between the tick and the skin of you dog and pry the tick off. These tools are very cheap and very effective, I highly recommend buying one at your local pet store.

Remember it is important to remove the entire tick from the dog. Any parts left behind could cause a secondary infection. Don't dig around in the dog's skin to remove these small parts; a veterinarian will be able to do it much safer. Also, always save the tick in case the dog shows sign of illness. Having the cause of the disease makes the veterinarian's job of diagnosis much easier.

Always do your best to prevent ticks on your dog. Powders, collars and certain medicines do a good job of repelling or killing ticks, and keeping a mowed lawn will keep tick numbers down. However, if you ever find a tick on your dog follow the steps I have provided to remove the tick quickly. That is the best way to keep your beloved family dog healthy.

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