Dogs are awesome. Ticks, however, are not.  This is why dog owners do everything they can to make sure ticks stay as far away from their dogs as possible. However, try as we may, sometimes, it is just impossible to keep the bloodsuckers away. For these cases, it is helpful to know how to remove a tick from your dog calmly and safely.

Signs That Your Dog Has Picked Up a Tick

There are certain pointers to keep an eye out for. If you find a tick inside the house, then it is possible that a tick has made its way on to your dog. Other signs include scabs you cannot account for, fever, constant shaking of the head, and bumps on your dog. Keep in mind that these are just probable signs, which means something other than ticks may have caused them.

How to Remove a Tick 

If you do find a tick on your dog’s fur you can attempt to remove it. In fact, the use of Vaseline or other lubricants on an embedded tick is not advised. The most common method is the use of fine-point tweezers instead of the normal blunt ones that are normally used at home. The process is simple and straightforward.

Part the fur around the area where the tick has embedded itself. Using the tweezers, grab the tick as close to the skin as you can without hurting the dog and pull outwards gently. You want to be gentle because the idea is to get the hooks out of the skin. Do it too fast and you risk breaking the tick and leaving the hooks embedded. 

You can use a tick removal hook instead of tweezers. Once you remove the tick, you can cleanse the area with antiseptic wipes of rubbing alcohol. It is not advisable to use your fingers. As usual, you can take the pet to the vet in case you are having problems. Remember to practice caution with regards to where you bring your dog, in order to avoid similar encounters in the future.