by Candy Akers

Created on: July 02, 2007   Last Updated: June 17, 2009

Ticks are very common pests on pets in the summer. Removing them correctly is very important to prevent the transmission of diseases. I am currently in Oklahoma going to vet school, and during the summer I do research on ticks so I have more experience on this subject than I would like.

There are a few points Id like to make regarding ticks that have been incorrectly stated here and many places in articles on the internet. My most important point is to get the tick off your pet as soon as possible.

First off, tick anatomy is very simple, and yet the attachment to their host is also complex. They do not have heads' so to speak, and they do not burrow their heads into the dog. They do have mouth parts, and these are used for cutting, feeding and sucking up blood meals from the host. The tick will insert its mouth parts into an animal and then fairly quickly will create a cement' using a special saliva which bonds the tick to the animal. Once the mouth parts have been cemented is very difficult to remove them and they can be attached in less than an hour. This is why people often complain about the head' breaking off and staying in the pet.

To prevent the transmission of tick borne diseases such as Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Babesia, Ehrlichia, Cytauxzoan and more, ticks should be removed as soon as possible. Scientists used to believe that it took at least 24 hours of tick attachment before a tick could transmit disease, but studies have shown that some diseases can be spread in less than 5 hours.

Also many of these diseases can also infect humans, therefore you should ALWAYS wear gloves when removing ticks. Tweezers and other instruments are a very good way to remove ticks, and there are many good products on the market that are specially designed for tick removal. I personally love the small units that have a wire ring at the end and a push button, and you simply retract the device and the tick comes off.
Studies have shown most products that people apply to ticks do not have any effect on tick viability or health. Alcohol, petroleum jelly, and syrups and even fire have little effect on the tick and its feeding. You can use alcohol or other disinfectants to cleanse the skin after removing the tick from your pet.

If you or your pets have any reaction to a tick bite, see a vet or your physician as soon as possible. Many of these diseases have blurred symptoms such as rashes, lethargy, anorexia and fever. Many can be treated if caught early with a strong, extended round of antibiotics. If you have any questions about ticks or tick borne diseases, you should call your local veterinarian, because he or she should know the types of ticks in your area, and the prevalence of diseases among the ticks.

Follow these simple rules to tick removal and you will keep your self and your pet healthy and happy:
Remove ticks as quickly as possible
Wear gloves
Use tweezers or forceps
Clean the skin after removal
Dispose of tick down the drain

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