When you discover a tick on your cat or dog, your first priority is to remove the tick. Here are step by step instructions for safely removing a tick at home.
1) First, collect the supplies you will need, such as:
-Rubber gloves
-Tweezers
-Jar or container
-Rubbing alcohol
-Paper towels
Tip: When removing the tick with your fingers, wear rubber gloves. Ticks carry a host of diseases that can be transmitted through contact with your bare skin. If you don’t have rubber gloves, use a paper towel to cover your skin or tweezers to remove the tick.
2) Grasp the tick as close to your pet’s skin as possible. This will help to remove the head and mouth parts of the tick.
Pull the tick out in a straight direction, with even pressure. Do Not twist or yank the tick – this will cause the mouth parts to break off in your pet’s skin. If the tick doesn’t release right away, continue to pull evenly until the tick does release from your pet’s skin.
Tip: Touching a match to the tick or using petroleum jelly or grease do not work effectively. These methods can make the tick salivate and increase the chance of transmitting an infection to your pet.
3) Most veterinarians will recommend putting the tick into a disposable jar or container with a tightly sealed lid, often filled with alcohol. Some owners label the jar with the date of the bite and location of the tick. There are two reasons. 1) It will kill the tick. 2) Keeping the tick for a few weeks is a good idea. If your pet becomes ill, you can have the tick tested for disease. Some of the diseases transmitted by ticks do not cause symptoms immediately.
Tip: Flushing a tick or throwing it into the garbage will not kill it. You don’t want the tick to become free in your home or yard again.
4) If the tick’s mouth pieces appear to be stuck in your pet’s skin, don’t try to pick them out because this can inflame the bite area. If you pet will let you, apply a warm compress, which might encourage the skin to expel the remaining mouth pieces. If the pieces are large or the bite area looks inflamed or infected, please check with your veterinarian for assistance.
5) If the bite looks clean and completely free of the tick, disinfect the bite area.
6) Wash your hand thoroughly, as well as any tools used during removal of the tick.
If you are still unsure about removing a tick from your pet, please contact your veterinarian. When you go to the office, they can show you the proper way to remove the tick. Or, if you attempt to remove the tick and believe there is any type of issue, such as tick parts stuck in the skin, inflammation, or infection, please do not hesitate to get to the vet. If your pet shows signs and symptoms of illness in the days or weeks following a tick bite, please contact your veterinarian!
