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A Technique for Removing Ticks
Dog ticks can cause paralysis or even death of your pet. Removing ticks promptly is essential for keeping your pet healthy. But unless you do it correctly, your pet may remain in danger.
Ticks are small insects that attach to your dog's skin and feed on his blood. And once they grab hold, they are difficult to remove.
Be aware that tick removal process can be very scary for your dog. When I removed ticks from Bo, I always had some dog treats hidden in my pocket. As soon as the procedure was over, I would reward him for being so brave! The reward also made it easier to remove ticks the next time.
Whether you find one tick or several, you need to remove them. Because of their body structure, removing ticks can be tricky. If you don't do it correctly, you may leave your pet exposed to several debilitating deceases.
Of course, it's much better to prevent ticks from attaching to your dog than to remove ticks. Visit dog ticks page to learn about tick prevention techniques and a product that kills 100% of ticks within 48 hours after you apply it.
So, what's the next step after you spot a tick?
Removing Ticks
The most common mistake many dog owners make when removing ticks is not removing the whole tick.
Let me explain.
When it sucks your dog's blood, a tick's head is pressed against the dog's skin, face first. Its mouth is actually buried under your dog's skin. If you are not careful, you can leave the head behind.
Here is how you can safely remove ticks…
Hold a cotton swab soaked in mineral oil against the tick for about 30 seconds.
Use tweezers, like this Apothecary Magnifying Tweezer, to squeeze the skin that surrounds the tick and grab its head.
Slowly, pull it out. When you finish, clean the spot with rubbing alcohol.
Make sure that you got everything out and… don't forget to wash your hands.
Removing ticks is not complicated, but it's important that you do it correctly.
Common Tick Removal Mistakes
I feel this subject would not be complete if I didn't mention some common mistakes some dog owners make when removing ticks…
The most common, and most dangerous for your pet, is squashing the tick. It causes the content's of the tick's intestines, which contain lots of decease carrying bacteria, to spread into your dog's bloodstream. Visit tick bite symptoms page to learn how to recognize if your pet has been infected.
Another common and dangerous, this time to the dog owner, mistake is to try and remove the tick with bare fingers. Don't do it! Tick saliva and Lyme decease can easily get under your fingernails and cracks in the skin.
Some dog owners even try to burn the tick while it's still attached to their pet. I don't even know what to say about this tick removal "technique". Just don't do it!
When removing ticks, always keep safety, yours and your pet's, in mind. Don't repeat these mistakes!
If you don't want to be bothered with constantly removing ticks from your dog but feel topical medications like FRONTLINE Plus are too expensive, consider getting him a tick collar.
I used Preventic Tick Collar For Dogs on Bo and was satisfied with it.
Its only drawback is that it does not kill fleas (Zema Dog Flea & Tick Collar does and is cheaper than Preventic, but I don't have "hands on" experience with it).
That said, I want to add that tick collars are not, and probably never will be, as good as topical medications such as FRONTLINE Plus and others. I started using FRONTLINE Plus several seasons ago and haven't had to remove a single tick.
Of course, you still need to check your dog for any sign of ticks.
Visit tick bite page for additional tick prevention techniques.
Tick collars do a decent job of keeping ticks away, but they are not perfect. From time to time, you may need to remove a tick or two.
Before you start removing ticks, I recommend you apply FRONTLINE Spray.
With severe infestations, many vet clinics will apply fast-acting FRONTLINE Spray to your pet right in the clinic and then recommend at-home follow-up with the long-lasting control of FRONTLINE Plus.
To learn more about FRONTLINE Plus, visit dog ticks page.
Now, the best part…
Because FRONTLINE Spray is an over the counter product, you can save a lot of money on vet visits by applying it yourself!
To keep your dog healthy, examine his skin for any signs of ticks. If you discover a tick, you need to act quickly. Removing ticks from your dog's body is not complicated, but to prevent any complications, you have to do it correctly.
I hope you will find this information useful and it helps you to recognize some common health problems your pet may be experiencing. However, if you suspect your pet is ill, immediately contact your veterinarian. He or she will be able to help you decide the best course of action when it comes to caring for your pet.
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