Step-By-Step Tick Removal Instructions
If you find a tick on your pet, you need to remove it as quickly as possible. You can do two different things. You can call the clinic and schedule an appointment for someone to help with the tick removal, or if you would like to remove it yourself, below are step-by-step instructions on how to remove a tick.
You will need:
- Mineral Oil
- Rubbing alcohol
- Peroxide
- Latex or rubber gloves
- Container with a lid
- Tweezers or a tool designed specifically for tick removal
- Someone to hold your pet
Step 1 – Preparations
Never use your bare hand to remove a tick. Ticks carry diseases that can be passed through broken skin or by touching your face after handling one. The safest option is to use latex or rubber gloves. You may also want to consider grabbing someone to help you; especially if your pet doesn’t like to stand still.
Step 2 – Tick Removal
Treat the area with mineral oil and leave it there for 10 to 15 minutes. This will suffocate the tick for easier removal. After waiting for the 10 to 15 minutes, you are ready to start pulling the tick off. With your tweezers, or tick removal tool, pull upwards. You need to do this as smoothly as possible. Do not jerk on the tick or twist it. Also, be sure you do not squeeze or crush the tick. Either one of these actions could cause parts of the tick to remain in your pet or cause the transmittance of infectious agents to your pet.
Step 3 – Disposal
After getting the tick off your pet, do not flush it down the toilet or put it in the trash. To safely dispose of a tick, you need to put it in a container with a lid and some rubbing alcohol. Keep the tick in the container for a few weeks. If you see any redness, inflammation, or if your pet gets sick later, you will need to bring your pet and the tick to the clinic for evaluation.
Step 4 – Clean Up
The final step of the tick removal process is the clean up. Sometimes, parts of the tick will remain in your pet’s skin. The best thing to do is disinfect the area with peroxide and leave the parts in the skin. Do not try to get the parts out with tweezers. The body will expel them in time.
After putting the tick in its final resting place, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly and sterilize the tweezers or tick removal tool. You can do this by running the tools over a flame or by cleaning it with rubbing alcohol.
Prevention
The best way to protect your pet against ticks is to use prevention April through December. If you travel to the southern states during winter, you may want to consider using prevention year-round. Pet Care Clinic sells a few different brands of prevention for cats and dogs. If you would like to get your pet started on prevention, please call our front desk staff to discuss which tick prevention options are available to your pet.
