The proper way to remove a tick:
Grasp the tick (with tweezers which have been sterilized with alcohol
or by holding them briefly in a flame) beneath the tick's body and
as close to your dog's skin as possible. Pull up with slow,
steady pressure until the tick releases it's grip. This may
take as long as a minute or too. If you pull too hard or too fast you
could break off the tick's body, leaving the head buried under
your dog's skin. If this happens, see your vet promptly - it can cause
a serious infection.
You can also use a tick removal tool. Found in pet supply stores, they
look like a little plastic spoon or a small piece of metal with a notch
in the end. Slide the notched end beneath the tick's body and pull as above,
and you will end up with the tick in the bowl of the spoon.
After you remove the tick, kill it (do not do this with your bare fingers).
If possible put it in a sealed container to take to your vet for analysis.
Do NOT ...
-
Smother the tick in mineral-oil, vaseline, nail polish, nail-polish
remover, etc. These substances make the tick more likely to disgorge
toxins into your dog's body.
-
Hold a match to the tick - you're likely to burn your dog, yourself
or both. It also makes the tick more likely to inject toxins into
your dog.
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