Found a Tick on Your Dog? Here is Exactly What to Do
We have all been there. You are relaxing after a long day, happily running your hands through your dog’s fur, when suddenly your fingers brush against a weird, hard bump. You carefully part their coat, hoping it’s just a skin tag or some dried mud from your evening walk at the local park, but no—it’s brown, it has legs, and it’s stuck firmly into your dog's skin. It’s a tick.
Finding a tick is gross, and honestly, a little scary. In India, especially during the monsoon season or in cities with lots of grassy patches, ticks are everywhere. And they are more than just a creepy nuisance; they are the primary carriers of some very dangerous diseases for our pets. Here is everything you need to know about where they hide, the right way to rip them out, and how to stop them from coming back.
Jump to section
Quick Summary
- Ticks don't jump: They wait on tall blades of grass and latch onto your dog as they brush past.
- Removal matters: Never try to burn a tick off or cover it in oil. Use tweezers, grab it as close to the skin as possible, and pull straight out.
- Watch for a fever: If your dog becomes lethargic or loses their appetite a few weeks after a tick bite, get to a vet immediately.
What exactly are ticks? (And how did my dog get one?)
While they look like insects, ticks are actually arachnids, meaning they are much closer cousins to spiders and mites. Depending on their life stage, they can have either six legs (as larvae) or eight legs (as nymphs and adults). Before feeding, they look like tiny, flat brown seeds—usually about 3 to 5 millimeters long. But once they attach to your dog and gorge themselves on blood, they swell up and turn a grayish color, looking almost like a small, plump grape.
A huge myth is that ticks jump from trees onto our dogs. They don't! Ticks actually practice something called "questing." They climb up to the edge of a bush or a blade of tall grass and simply hold out their front legs. When your dog happily trots past and brushes against the grass, the tick grabs onto their fur and climbs aboard. They can also hitch a ride into your house on your own shoes or clothing!
The 5 places ticks love to hide
After a walk in a grassy area, you should always do a quick tick check. Ticks love warm, dark, hidden places where they won't get scratched off. When you are running your hands through their coat, pay special attention to these areas:
- Deep inside and directly behind the ears.
- Snug under their collar or walking harness.
- Hidden in their "armpits" and groin area.
- Squeezed right between their toes (always check the paws!).
- Right under the base of their tail.
The reality of "Tick Fever"
A tick bite usually causes a little bit of local redness or itching, but the real danger lies in the bacteria they carry. In India, vets regularly treat dogs for what we generally call "Tick Fever"—usually a disease like Ehrlichiosis or Babesiosis.
These diseases attack your dog's blood cells. If an infected tick stays attached to your dog for a few hours, it transmits the bacteria into their bloodstream. Even worse, dogs can contract a disease called Hepatozoonosis simply by swallowing a tick while they are grooming or chewing an itchy spot on their own leg.
Signs you need to see a vet: Tick-borne diseases don't show up instantly. Keep an eye on your dog for a few weeks after finding a tick. If they suddenly develop a high fever, seem extremely tired (lethargic), lose their appetite, or show signs of joint pain, take them to the vet immediately. The faster you catch Tick Fever, the easier it is to treat with antibiotics.
How to safely remove a tick
There are a lot of old wives' tales out there about removing ticks. Let's clear the air: Do NOT try to burn the tick with a match, soak it in kerosene, or smother it in petroleum jelly. These methods do not work, they risk seriously hurting your dog, and they often cause the panicking tick to release even more disease-causing saliva into your dog's bloodstream.
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Protect yourself | Ticks carry diseases that can affect humans too. Put on a pair of disposable gloves, or at least use a tissue so you aren't touching the tick with your bare skin. |
| 2. Prep the alcohol | Fill a small cup or bowl with a little bit of rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol). |
| 3. Grab the tweezers | If the tick is attached, take a pair of tweezers and grasp the tick as absolutely close to your dog's skin as possible. You want to make sure you are grabbing the head/mouthparts, not just squeezing its plump body. |
| 4. Pull straight out | Slowly and firmly pull the tick straight out. Do not twist or yank it, as this can cause the head to break off and stay stuck under your dog's skin. |
| 5. Drown it | Drop the tick immediately into the rubbing alcohol to kill it. Wash your hands thoroughly afterward! |
If your dog wiggles and the tick's mouthparts accidentally break off inside the skin, don't try to dig it out with a needle! Just clean the area with mild soap and water. Usually, your dog's body will naturally heal and expel it like a tiny splinter over the next few days. Just keep an eye on it to ensure it doesn't look infected.
Recommended Tick Prevention
The absolute best way to handle ticks is to stop them from biting in the first place. Here are the prevention methods we trust.
The Bottom Line
Ticks are a frustrating reality of being a pet parent, but they don't have to be a disaster. By doing regular tick checks after your walks, learning how to safely remove them without panicking, and keeping your dog on a strict, year-round tick prevention medication recommended by your vet, you can keep your furry best friend safe and comfortable all year long.
0 comments