What is the best way to remove ticks on dogs?
In spring, ticks become active again. From tiny nymphs to adult ticks, these crawling pests can cause a lot of suffering. As many as 1 in 5 ticks in the Netherlands is infected with the Borrelia bacteria, which causes Lyme disease. Anaplasmosis is also transmitted by ticks. So it's important to remove ticks from your dog as soon as possible!
Fleas & ticks
9 April '24 • 2 min reading time
When you remove a tick on time, it prevents the transmission of dangerous conditions such as Lyme disease. Often, such an infection is transmitted only after 24 to 48 hours while the tick is still attached to the skin. So, if you regularly check your dog and remove ticks on time, the risk of infection is much lower. Don't forget to check yourself too!
Removing a tick
To remove ticks, you need a special tool. It is not advisable to try to remove the tick with regular tweezers. To prevent infection, it is very important that the tick comes out of your dog's skin completely. This can only be achieved if you do not squeeze the tick when removing it. There are two tools available to remove ticks: the tick remover or the tick card (tick key). With these tools, you can remove the tick completely, including its mouthparts and body.
Tick remover
The tick remover has been around for a long time. With a tick remover, you should grip the tick as close to the skin as possible. You remove the tick by gently pulling it with a rotating motion or by pulling straight up gently until the tick releases.
Tick card
Using a tick card or tick key is a little different. You can grip the engorged tick or nymph in a custom-sized hole in the card and then remove the tick in a sliding sideways motion. According to the makers of the tick card, this method of removal prevents contaminated blood from flowing back into the wound and causing infection. A tick card is the size of a credit card and easy to carry on a walk.
Disinfecting
Make sure never to use soap, alcohol, or any other disinfectant before removing the tick. This increases the chance that contaminated blood or a part of the tick will remain in the skin. Only after the entire tick has been removed can you clean the wound. Therefore, always check carefully to ensure you have the whole tick, including the head and front legs. If the head remains attached, do not use disinfectant. You can let the head part ulcerate (like a splinter) or ask the veterinarian to remove it.
Still feeling unwell?
Keep an eye on your dog after removing a tick. In most dogs, you cannot easily see if a red circle forms around the bite, as in humans, due to the fur. If your dog shows signs of illness after removing a tick (such as lethargy, fever, or stiffness), consult a veterinarian quickly. The sooner you act, the better.