Although you may want to scream and then remove the tick as quickly as possible, you need to stay calm and follow these simple steps to remove the tick safely and keep your pet out of harm’s way.
1. Know where you are putting it.Although you may think flushing it down the toilet or throwing it in the trash is good enough, it may not actually kill the tick. Plus, you may want to hold on to the tick for a few weeks so your vet can test it if your pet becomes ill. The best option for you is to prepare a small jar with a screw-top lid on it. Place a little bit of rubbing alcohol into the jar and place the tick inside.
2. Find an assistant.When you are removing the tick, there is a good chance your pet will try to squirm away. For this reason, it is always good to have someone else there to distract your pet and keep them calm, so you can focus on removing the tick.
3. Protect yourself. Make sure and put on a pair of latex or rubber gloves to protect yourself. Ticks carry diseases that can enter your bloodstream through cuts or scrapes. They can also be transferred through mucous membranes, such as your eyes, nostrils or mouth. To keep yourself healthy, you never want to have direct content with the tick or the bite area on your pet.
4. Remove the tick. Before you remove the tick, treat the bite area with rubbing alcohol. Use a pair of tweezers and grab the tick as close to your pet's skin as possible. Do not twist or yank the tick out. This may leave parts of the bug in your pet, which can cause infections or illness. Instead, pull straight up with a steady and even pressure. Place the tick immediately in the jar you prepared. Once you have placed the tick in the jar, re-examine your pet to ensure no parts were left behind. If parts remain, do not start digging at them with tweezers because this can embed them further into your pet's skin. Instead, disinfect the bite and then place a warm compress on the area so the body can expel them.
5. Keep clean. Once the tick has been removed, thoroughly clean your pet's bite area. Also, sterilize your tweezers by placing them in rubbing alcohol or by running them through a flame.
6. Monitor your pet. After removing the tick, monitor your pet for a few weeks to ensure there are no infections at the bite area. If the bite area becomes inflamed or red, take both your pet and the tick in the jar to your vet for further testing.
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