Removing a Tick from Your Dog You should use fine-point tweezers, to avoid tearing the tick and spreading possible infections into the bite area. Spread your dog's fur, then grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Very gently, pull straight upward, in a slow, steady motion.
Using tweezers:
Drop the tick in the Ziploc bag with some of the rubbing alcohol inside. The alcohol will kill the tick. Seal the bag and hold on to in case you need to show it to your veterinarian. Clean your dog's skin with the antiseptic.
Steps to Follow
Engorged Tick Removal Step 1: Using a pair of pointed tweezers, grasp the tick as close to your dog's skin as you can. Step 2: Once you have a good hold on it, wiggle the tweezers very gently to pull the tick out steadily. Don't twist or jerk the tweezers.
Use tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull it straight out slowly and clean the area with a skin disinfectant. Seek medical attention if the tick is not completely removed. Do not apply Vaseline or heat to the tick body to remove it.
Fill a cup with undiluted, white distilled vinegar. Soak a cotton ball or cotton swab in the vinegar and touch it to the butt end of the tick. Ticks hate the smell of vinegar and most of them will back out of the skin in order to get away from it.
Use Dental Floss In a Pinch Tweezers work well for tick removal because they're easy to maneuver and even a slightly annoyed dog will stay quiet long enough for you to grab the tick. But if you don't have tweezers around, some dental floss might work as well.
How to Remove a Tick from a Dog Without Tweezers
The longer they stay attached, the greater the risk of infection. That's why it's important to remove a tick as soon as you see one on your dog.
If you attempt to remove a tick but its head or mouthparts are left behind in your pet, don't panic. You've killed the tick and removed its body, preventing any serious risk of disease transmission. The residual parts, however, could still lead to an infection at the attachment site.
If you don't remove ticks on dogs at an early stage, they can spread various diseases including Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. Tick bites can also lead to bacterial skin infections and other complications, so you should always remove ticks when you find them.
If no tools are available, rather than delay use a fine thread, something like cotton or dental floss. Tie a single loop of thread around the tick's mouthparts, as close to the skin as possible, then pull upwards and outwards without twisting. DO start by cleansing the tweezers/tool with antiseptic.
Submerging a tick in original Listerine or rubbing alcohol will kill it instantly. However, applying these substances may kill the tick, but it will stay attached to your dog's skin.
Instructions: trap the tick in the slot at skin level, then gently twist until it comes off. To minimise the risk of disease transmission, do not squeeze the tick. Do not leave the ticks 'head' behind in the skin. Suitable for people and animals.