Ticks on Dogs: Removal, Diseases and Prevention

By Tailwisp Editorial TeamUpdated October 17, 20263 min read

Ticks are small but can carry serious diseases, and finding one is not an emergency if you act calmly.

Where ticks live

Ticks wait on grass, brush and leaf litter, and latch on when a host passes. Common species include deer ticks, brown dog ticks, American dog ticks and lone star ticks. Activity varies with region and temperature, but some species are active in mild winter weather.

How to find ticks

After every outing, run your hands slowly over your dog, especially around:

• Ears and inside ear flaps
• Neck and under the collar
• Armpits and groin
• Between toes
• Eyelids and lips
• Under the tail

A tick can be as small as a poppy seed before it feeds and swells.

How to remove a tick

1. Wear gloves and have a small container ready.
2. Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool and grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
3. Pull steadily straight out, without twisting or jerking.
4. Clean the bite with antiseptic and wash your hands.
5. Save the tick in a sealed container or tape, noting the date, in case your vet asks.

Do not use heat, petroleum jelly, nail polish or alcohol on an attached tick.

Diseases ticks carry

• Lyme disease. See Lyme disease in dogs
• Ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis
• Babesiosis
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever
• Tick paralysis, in some regions

Signs may appear days to weeks later and include fever, lethargy, lameness, loss of appetite, swollen joints and bruising. See anemia in dogs.

When to call your vet

Contact your vet if your dog develops lameness, fever, tiredness, poor appetite or swelling after a tick bite or tick-heavy outing. Tell them when and where the exposure occurred. Testing can look for exposure to tick-borne diseases.

Prevention

• Use a vet-recommended tick preventive such as a chewable, topical or collar, appropriate for your dog's weight and health
• Check your dog daily in tick season and after outings
• Keep yards tidy, trimming grass and removing leaf piles
• Avoid walking through tall grass and brush
• Vaccination against Lyme disease is available in some regions, so ask your vet

See dog flea, tick and heartworm medications.

Ticks in the home

Ticks can drop off in homes and bedding. Wash bedding, vacuum and treat as advised if you find unattached ticks.

Common mistakes

• Squeezing the tick's body
• Twisting the tick
• Stopping prevention in winter
• Ignoring signs weeks later

Troubleshooting

• The head stayed in the skin: clean the area and watch for infection, and call your vet if swelling or pus develops.
• My dog is on preventive and still got a tick: some products work after the tick bites, so remove it promptly.
• My dog has a lump after a bite: monitor and call if it grows.

A simple plan

1. Check your dog after outings.
2. Remove ticks promptly.
3. Use year-round prevention.
4. Call your vet for symptoms.

Real-life examples

A spaniel's tick is removed within hours and nothing follows. A retriever with fever and joint pain tests positive for Lyme disease and recovers with antibiotics. A terrier on prevention still picks up ticks but avoids illness. Vigilance pays.

A daily habit

A thirty-second tick check after walks is one of the cheapest health measures you can take.

Questions to ask your vet

Ask which tick species live in your area, which prevention products work best, whether Lyme vaccination makes sense for your dog and whether yearly screening tests are advised. Ask how to treat the area if a tick is left behind, and which signs mean your dog should be seen the same day.

Making tick checks easy

Teach your dog to enjoy handling by pairing it with treats, and use a comb or your fingertips on thick coats. Keep a tick removal tool by the door with a small jar of alcohol. Short coats, trimmed paw hair and light-colored bandanas make ticks easier to see.

The takeaway

Check, remove promptly and prevent. Call your vet if illness signs follow a tick bite.

This article is general educational information, not veterinary advice. Every dog is different. If your dog is unwell, or you are unsure about a symptom, diet change or medication, contact your veterinarian.