Yes, it is recommended to take your dog to the vet if they have a tick infestation. Ticks can carry many diseases, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, that can be transmitted to humans as well as other animals. The vet will be able to diagnose the type of tick and recommend the best treatment option for your pet. They may need to use a topical medication or give an oral medication depending on the type of infestation and severity of symptoms. Additionally, at the vet's office, you can ask any questions or have concerns addressed by a professional in order to ensure that your pet receives proper care.
Use a pair of tweezers, dissecting microscope, or tick key
When it comes to removing a tick from your dog, you may be tempted to use your hands or an improvised tool. Don't do it! The best way to safely and effectively remove a tick from your dog is with the appropriate tools.
The two best tools for removing a tick on your dog is either a pair of sterile tweezers or a specialized device known as a "tick key". The tweezers are slightly less expensive but take more skill and patience because you'll need to grasp the mouthparts close to the skin of your pet in order to avoid spreading bacteria throughout the bite wound.
You can also use a dissecting microscope, although it's more costly and only necessary if you plan on taking the tick home for further examination and identification. Generally, ticks should not be examined at home, as there is risk of releasing diseased organisms into the environment.
Gently grasp the tick as close to its head the part that is embedded into your dog’s skin as Detail possible
When the decision is made to remove a tick from your dog, the best technique is to grasp it as close to its head as possible, being careful not to squeeze the body. Rather than attempting removal with tweezers, if available, a tick spoon or hook can be helpful. These are tools that offer a flat surface where you place the tool on either side of the tick's head and then lift gently so that it can be removed from the skin.
Before you begin removing the tick, use some cleanser around your pet’s neck area so that any saliva from the tick does not enter their body. You can use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide for this step. When removing ticks for ingestion, it's also important to ensure that no pieces of the attached insect remain embedded in your pet's skin. If necessary, take a picture of your dog before and after removal so that you have a visual reference point should additional veterinarian intervention become necessary.
Once your dog’s tick has been successfully removed, disinfect humans that have came in contact with it using an antibacterial soap and warm water solution. And while these guidelines may seem straightforward enough, if you feel uncomfortable at any point during this process (or notice strange symptoms in your pet following the incident) the safest option is to call your veterinarian immediately for further assistance.
Pull steadily and firmly—do not twist or jerk
When you are removing a tick from your dog's skin, the most important step is to pull steadily and firmly. Do not twist or jerk the tick or try to remove it with tools like tweezers; it may cause the body of the tick to stay behind in the skin and result in an infection.
Apply firm pressure around the head of the tick before pulling, this will help to weaken its grip on your pet’s skin. Once its grip has been weakened, you can carefully slide your fingers underneath (closer to its head) your pet's skin and grasp it firmly. Then, take a deep breath and pull steadily away from the surface of their skin. Make sure not to leave any pieces of tick embedded in their skin.
If necessary, make sure to cleanse your dog's area with soap-and-water or rubbing alcohol after removal of the tick, as this will help stop any potential for infection. Also consider talking about having your pet preventively treated for ticks if there is a substantial risk to them—regardless of whether one was found in their coat. Taking these steps can go a long way toward keeping both you and your pet healthy!
Considering all of these
It’s important that you get any potential ticks removed by a qualified veterinarian who will know how to safely extract them and best protect you and your pet from acquiring serious diseases.
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