Small tick removal

[TigsytheTiger]

Just noticed a very small, almost flat tick on my frenchies face.

Normally have no problem removing them with a tick removal tool but this one is so small and flat the tool is too big to hold it, to let me pull it out.

I've ordered some small removal tools on Amazon prime but just wondered if anyone had any other bright ideas?

Covering the body in vaseline works, they just drop off.

Don't cover it in Vaseline or burn it, they expel their stomach contents and the risk of lymes rises.

Nip down to your vet before they shut, won't be expensive and order a tick tool for the future.

@stayathomegardener

Don't cover it in Vaseline or burn it, they expel their stomach contents and the risk of lymes rises. Nip down to your vet before they shut, won't be expensive and order a tick tool for the future.

This.

I had this trying to get a tiny one off my daughter - was so small it just slipped through the hook. You need pointed tweezers to grasp as close to the head as you can get and slowly pull out.

@Aztec283y

Covering the body in vaseline works, they just drop off.

Please don't do this.

You need to remove them safely - either with tweezers or a twister tool. Suffocating them with vaseline only means they vomit their stomach contents into your dog, increasing the risk of infection or disease.

I have a tick tool, it's just too small (the tick that is). Unfortunately he is totally vet phobic, even sedated. So much so, that they give me the syringes and I vaccinate him! Definitely would not let them remove a tick!

I'm going to try the fine tweezer route.

Are you using any flea and tick product like Bravecto, Nexgard, Simparica etc. If you are this should kill the tick within 8 hours which is long before it starts to transmit diseases. So very small ticks are impossible to remove with the tick tool, with years and multiple times practice I can get them as a vet, but if your dog is totally vet phobic in that site is probably best to wait for the product to kill it.

I use a pair of those bent tweezers

www.amazon.co.uk/Tweezer-stainless-antimagnetic-S7163-Postage/dp/B00CI2ZR38/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?hvlocphy=1007053&hvnetw=g&keywords=bent+nose+tweezers&hvadid=259163315716&qid=1628230400&dchild=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwmK6IBhBqEiwAocMc8hXqSxCAASpuOExM3lVaj78fxQ1RkFERZKzVSYWSmXS-hsFw11yWZRoC7DkQAvD_BwE&hydadcr=18248_1817056&hvdev=m&hvqmt=e&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=kwd-304237427915&adgrpid=58639523448&hvrand=9244845433130254849&sr=8-5

Thank you @Lonecatwithkitten unfortunately he's not on any tick treatment and i am usually pretty adept at getting them out!

We are also going on holiday tomorrow morning, so I'm trying to think how to deal with it today. I do have some smaller tick removers coming later that may do the trick.

Weirdly it doesn't seem to have got any bigger today, I was hoping it would engorge and I could get to it!

I do remember my other dog, who passed away a few years ago had a similar one that was almost flat and it just shrivelled up and dropped off eventually, but that's not ideal

@Lonecatwithkitten We're in the same position as the OP, but pup is on Simparica. Tick attached on Wednesday, is now dry and shrivelled but still attached - will it just fall off by itself?

Well I managed to get it out, but boy it was stubborn. My Dog Walker arrived and agreed it looks like I got it all out, so fingers crossed.

[quote Nix32]@Lonecatwithkitten We're in the same position as the OP, but pup is on Simparica. Tick attached on Wednesday, is now dry and shrivelled but still attached - will it just fall off by itself?[/quote]
Yes absolutely it will just fall out as it has been killed by the Simparica.