Where to Check Your Dog for Ticks
Run your hands over your dog's entire body after walks or outdoor play. Ticks prefer warm, hidden areas. Pay extra attention to these spots:
In and around ears
Warm, thin skin — favorite tick spot
Under the collar
Hidden and often missed during checks
Between the toes
Easy to overlook, hard for dogs to reach
Around the eyelids
Thin skin with good blood supply
Under the front legs
'Armpits' are warm and sheltered
Groin area
Warm, minimal fur coverage
Around the tail
Base of tail and under it
Under the chin/jaw
Close to ground level while sniffing
How to Remove a Tick from Your Dog
- 1
Stay calm — don't panic
Your dog will sense your anxiety. Have someone help hold your dog still if needed.
- 2
Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool
A tick key or tick twister can also work well. Avoid using your fingers.
- 3
Part the fur around the tick
Get a clear view of where the tick is attached to the skin.
- 4
Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible
Grip the tick's head/mouthparts, not the body. Squeezing the body can push infectious material into your dog.
- 5
Pull straight up with steady pressure
Don't twist, jerk, or wiggle. Slow, even pressure is key. It may take a few seconds.
- 6
Clean the bite site
Apply antiseptic or rubbing alcohol to the bite area. Wash your hands thoroughly.
- 7
Save and monitor
Put the tick in a sealed bag. Watch the bite site for redness, swelling, or infection over the next few weeks.
What NOT to Do When Removing a Tick from Your Dog
- ✗Don't squeeze the tick's body — Can inject bacteria and toxins into your dog.
- ✗Don't use petroleum jelly, nail polish, or essential oils — These 'folk remedies' don't work and may cause the tick to regurgitate.
- ✗Don't burn the tick while it's attached — You'll burn your dog and the tick may inject more pathogens.
- ✗Don't try to pull a tick out with your bare fingers — You may crush it or not remove the mouthparts completely.
- ✗Don't ignore an embedded tick and hope it falls off — The longer it feeds, the higher the risk of disease transmission.
Tick-Borne Diseases in Dogs
Lyme Disease
2–5 months after bitevia Deer Tick
Lameness (shifting leg pain), fever, swollen joints, loss of appetite, lethargy. Can cause kidney disease.
Ehrlichiosis
1–3 weeks after bitevia Lone Star Tick / Brown Dog Tick
Fever, weight loss, bleeding disorders, swollen lymph nodes, eye inflammation.
Anaplasmosis
1–2 weeks after bitevia Deer Tick
Joint pain, lethargy, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, sometimes seizures.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
2–14 days after bitevia Dog Tick
High fever, swollen lymph nodes, joint pain, skin lesions, neurological signs.
Babesiosis
2 weeks after bitevia Deer Tick / Brown Dog Tick
Anemia, dark-colored urine, fever, weakness, jaundice. Can be life-threatening.
Best Tick Prevention for Dogs
Preventative Products
Oral preventatives
NexGard, Bravecto, Simparica, Credelio
Monthly or every-3-months chewable. Kills ticks after they bite. Very effective.
Topical treatments
Frontline Plus, K9 Advantix II, Vectra 3D
Applied monthly to skin between shoulder blades. Repels and kills ticks.
Tick collars
Seresto collar
Long-lasting (up to 8 months). Releases active ingredients continuously. Good for multi-pet households.
Additional Prevention Tips
- Use tick prevention year-round, not just during summer
- Check your dog for ticks after every outdoor outing
- Keep your yard mowed and leaf litter cleared
- Consider professional tick control for your property
- Ask your vet about the Lyme disease vaccine for dogs in high-risk areas
- Avoid letting your dog roam in tall grass, brush, or wooded areas
When to See a Veterinarian
- ⚠Your dog has a fever, is lethargic, or has lost appetite after a tick bite
- ⚠The tick bite site becomes red, swollen, or infected
- ⚠Your dog develops lameness or joint swelling
- ⚠You couldn't fully remove the tick — mouthparts are still embedded
- ⚠Your dog has had multiple ticks or heavy infestations
- ⚠You're in a Lyme disease endemic area and want a blood test
- ⚠Any unexplained behavioral changes after outdoor exposure
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