How to remove a tick from your pet's body
Source: Drs Foster and Smith
To remove an
attached tick, use a pair of fine-tipped tweezers or special tick removal
instruments. These special devices allow one to remove the tick without
squeezing the tick body. This is important as you do not want to crush the tick
and force harmful bacteria to leave the tick and enter your pet's bloodstream.
Grab the tick
by the head or mouth parts right where they enter the skin. Do not grasp the
tick by the body.
Without
jerking, pull firmly and steadily directly outward. Do not twist the tick as you
are pulling.
Using methods
such as applying petroleum jelly, a hot match, or alcohol will NOT cause the
tick to 'back out.' In fact, these irritants may cause the tick to deposit more
disease-carrying saliva in the wound.
After
removing the tick, place it in a jar of alcohol to kill it. Ticks are NOT
killed by flushing them down the toilet.
Clean the
bite wound with a disinfectant. If you want to, apply a small amount of a
triple antibiotic ointment.
Wash your
hands thoroughly.
Do not
use your fingers to remove or dispose of the tick. We do not want you in
contact with a potentially disease-carrying tick. Do NOT squash the tick with
your fingers. The contents of the tick can transmit disease.
Once an
embedded tick is manually removed, it is not uncommon for a welt and skin
reaction to occur. A little hydrocortisone
spray will help alleviate the irritation, but it may take a week or
more for healing to take place. In some cases, the tick bite may permanently
scar leaving a hairless area. This skin irritation is due to a reaction to tick
saliva. Do not be worried about the tick head staying in; it rarely happens.
Source: Drs Foster and Smith
