- By the dedicated team of editors and writers at Newsletter Station.
Ticks are more than just pesky parasites. They can transmit a variety of diseases to dogs and cats, and pets can also carry ticks into the home where they may eventually bite people or other animals. Because of this, finding and removing a tick promptly is an important part of responsible pet care.
Fortunately, removing an attached tick doesn't have to be complicated. With the right tools and a calm approach, you can safely remove most ticks at home. Here's what to do if you discover one on your pet.
Gather Your Supplies
Before you begin, gather everything you'll need so you don't have to stop midway through the process. Helpful supplies include:
Fine-tipped tweezers or a commercial tick-removal tool
Disposable gloves, if available
A small container or sealable bag for the removed tick
Rubbing alcohol for disinfecting tools or preserving the tick
Soap and water or a pet-safe antiseptic for cleaning the bite area
Fine-tipped tweezers are especially useful because they allow you to grasp the tick close to your pet's skin rather than squeezing its body.
Choose a Well-Lit, Calm Area
Move your pet to a quiet location with plenty of light. If your pet is anxious or constantly moving, having another person gently hold and reassure them can make the process much easier.
Take a moment to locate exactly where the tick is attached. Ticks can be surprisingly small and may be hidden beneath thick fur.
Protect Your Hands
Wearing disposable gloves is a good precaution when removing a tick. It helps prevent contact with the tick's body and its contents, particularly if you have cuts or irritated skin on your hands.
If you don't have gloves, avoid touching the tick directly and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after the removal. Veterinary parasite-control guidance recommends minimizing contact with tick contents and practicing careful hand hygiene.
Grasp the Tick Close to the Skin
Using fine-tipped tweezers, carefully grasp the tick as close to your pet's skin as possible.
Try to grab the tick where it is attached rather than squeezing its swollen body. A firm, controlled grip gives you the best chance of removing the tick completely.
Pull the Tick Straight Out
Once you have a secure grip, pull upward with slow, steady pressure.
Don't twist, jerk, or crush the tick while removing it. The goal is to remove the tick intact. A commercial tick-removal device can also be useful if you prefer one over tweezers. Prompt removal is recommended because ticks can transmit disease-causing organisms while attached.
If a small portion of the tick appears to remain embedded in the skin and you cannot easily remove it, don't repeatedly dig into your pet's skin. Contact your veterinarian for advice.
Dispose of the Tick Safely
Once you've removed the tick, don't simply drop it in the trash or leave it where it could come into contact with another pet.
Place it in a sealed container or plastic bag. You can also preserve it in rubbing alcohol if your veterinarian recommends keeping it for identification.
If you're concerned about possible exposure to a tick-borne disease, keeping the tick may be helpful if your veterinarian wants to identify it later.
Clean the Bite Area
After removing the tick, gently clean the area with soap and water or an appropriate pet-safe antiseptic.
Clean your tweezers or tick-removal tool, remove your gloves if you used them, and wash your hands thoroughly.
It's normal for the bite area to be mildly irritated immediately after a tick is removed. However, any increase in redness, swelling, discharge, or other changes should be discussed with your veterinarian.
Monitor Your Pet for Signs of Illness
Removing the tick is only the first step. Continue watching your pet for changes in the days and weeks afterward.
Depending on the disease involved, signs of tick-borne illness may not appear immediately. The CDC notes that symptoms can take 7–21 days or longer to develop after a tick bite.
Contact your veterinarian if you notice concerning changes such as:
Unusual tiredness or weakness
Changes in appetite
Fever
Limping or joint discomfort
Swollen lymph nodes
Vomiting or other unusual digestive symptoms
Changes in behavior
Your veterinarian can recommend appropriate testing based on your pet's symptoms, exposure, and local disease risks.
Check Your Pet Regularly for More Ticks
Finding one tick doesn't necessarily mean there's only one. After your pet has spent time outdoors, check their coat and skin carefully.
Pay particular attention to areas where ticks commonly hide, including:
Around and inside the ears
Around the eyes and eyelids
Under the collar
Between the toes
Under the front legs
Around the tail
Between the back legs
Daily tick checks are recommended for pets that spend time outdoors.
Use Year-Round Tick Prevention
One of the best ways to protect your pet is to prevent ticks from becoming a recurring problem in the first place.
Veterinary parasite experts recommend year-round tick prevention for dogs and cats, rather than stopping treatment when temperatures drop. Some tick species remain active during cooler weather, and certain ticks can survive indoors. Black-legged ticks, for example, can be particularly active during cooler months.
Talk with your veterinarian about the most appropriate flea and tick preventive for your pet. Options may include oral medications, topical treatments,s or collars, depending on your pet's species, age, health, lifestyle,e and local parasite risks.
Never use a flea or tick product intended for another species unless your veterinarian specifically tells you it is safe. Cats, in particular, can be sensitive to certain ingredients found in products designed for dogs.
Reduce Tick-Friendly Areas Around Your Home
You can also make your yard less attractive to ticks by keeping grass and vegetation trimmed, removing leaf litter and brush piles, and limiting areas where wildlife can congregate.
These steps won't eliminate every tick, but they can help reduce the number of places where ticks and their hosts thrive.
When Should You Call Your Veterinarian?
If you're uncomfortable removing a tick yourself, your pet won't stay still, the tick is in a difficult-to-reach location, or you're concerned that part of the tick remains attached, contact your veterinarian.
You should also call your veterinarian if your pet develops unusual symptoms after a tick bite. Your veterinarian can help determine whether testing, treatment, ent or a change in parasite prevention is appropriate.
Protect Your Pet From Ticks All Year Long
Knowing how to remove a tick safely is an important pet-care skill, but prevention is even better. Regular tick checks, combined with veterinarian-recommended year-round parasite prevention, can help reduce your pet's risk of tick-borne disease.
If you find a tick, don't panic. Gather your supplies, keep your pet calm, grasp the tick close to the skin, and remove it steadily. Then clean the area, wash your hands, and keep an eye on your pet for any unusual symptoms.
A few minutes of prevention and routine checking can go a long way toward keeping your pet—and your family—healthier.
