How to Remove a Tick From a Puppy

Prevent ticks in the future by limiting your puppy's time outdoors.
i Puppy image by AttitudeAngel from Fotolia.com

For ticks, puppies -- whose short bodies sit close to the ground and who aren't old enough yet for flea and tick preventatives -- are like furry buffets. Promptly removing the tick from your puppy is important. Even more important is removing the tick from your pooch correctly and safely.

Step 1

Fill a glass jar with a few inches of rubbing alcohol. The jar provides a safe, protected place that kills the tick and stores its body. If your pet becomes sick a few weeks later, you'll need to take the tick, and your pup, to the vet for disease testing.

Step 2

Put on rubber gloves to protect yourself from any diseases the tick could be carrying in its blood or saliva. Gently arrange your puppy so he's resting on his side. If necessary, have someone assist you in holding your puppy still.

Step 3

Grab the tick as close to the puppy's skin as possible, using your tweezers. Pull the tick from the skin away using a firm, steady pressure. Jerking or twisting the tick will break the body in two, which means you'll only remove the tick's lower half. Unless the entire tick is removed, its mouth and potentially disease-causing fluids will remain embedded in your puppy's skin.

Step 4

Place the tick inside the jar of alcohol and tightly screw the lid. Ticks are hardy insects who can easily climb out of trash cans, toilet bowls and sink drains. The only way to ensure complete removal is by depositing the tick in a jar and securing the lid.

Step 5

Wipe your puppy's skin around the tick bite with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. Disinfecting the surrounding area reduces the chance of future infection. Dip the tweezers in clean alcohol to remove any traces of tick saliva or bodily fluids.

Always check with your veterinarian before changing your pet’s diet, medication, or physical activity routines. This information is not a substitute for a vet’s opinion.

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