Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Flip

Original poster

Is it hard to remove a tick?

23 replies

Aria20 · 21/01/2023 10:48

I've never had to remove a tick before so a bit worried about it... any tips? It's in a tricky place - inner thigh area so not sure how I will keep the dog still!

If there is one tick is it likely there are others on her?

OP posts:

Bookkeys · 21/01/2023 10:52

If you've never done it before I would take the dogs to the vets to get it removed. It's quite tricky to get the whole tick out and if you think the dog will struggle too it may be harder. There bloody horrible little things!

EdithStourton · 21/01/2023 10:54

If you have a tick remover and someone to help hold the dog, it's pretty straightforward.

DillDanding · 21/01/2023 10:57

It’s easy if you have a tick remover, less easy with tweezers. You have to grab at the base and twist it. If they’re engorged, they are quite ready to come off ime.

And yes, check for others.

Bideshi · 21/01/2023 10:58

Yup, easy. We live in deer and sheep country and couldn't go running to the vet every time the dogs get a tick. You can get special tweezers that make life easier- outdoor shops or Amazon (probably). It's the work of seconds.

Allycat · 21/01/2023 11:05

When my cat had one on her ear, I covered it in vaseline with a cotton bud and left it. They breathe through their skin, so it suffocated and fell off on its own.

Original poster

Aria20 · 21/01/2023 11:07

I have ordered tick remover from Amazon it's coming tonight! Hopefully I can get it out with DS holding her still

OP posts:

whataboutsecondbreakfast · 21/01/2023 11:34

Allycat · 21/01/2023 11:05

When my cat had one on her ear, I covered it in vaseline with a cotton bud and left it. They breathe through their skin, so it suffocated and fell off on its own.

Please don't suffocate them, it can cause them to regurgitate into the pet - so if they're carrying disease, it increases the likelihood of infection.

Bideshi · 21/01/2023 12:52

Allycat · 21/01/2023 11:05

When my cat had one on her ear, I covered it in vaseline with a cotton bud and left it. They breathe through their skin, so it suffocated and fell off on its own.

Also I like to know where it is and get rid of the bugger.

Ohdearnotagain76 · 21/01/2023 12:55

Remember it will still be alive once removed so squish and dispose of. It could be a one off but make sure you check. Then get some deflea spot on that does ticks also.

lljkk · 21/01/2023 13:01

Easy with a good tool. I have occasionally done it by hand (I use a tissue), or seen others do it (no tissue). There is a Little more risk about mouth parts left behind if you do it by hand. I bet there are good youtube videos, btw.

Allycat · 21/01/2023 13:04

Bideshi just by chance I found it next to the cat. She was outside at the time. It was very satisfying to see it!!

Patchworksack · 21/01/2023 13:14

Do not squish. You risk contracting Lyme disease if the tick is carrying it. Are you 100% sure it’s a tick? They are very rare in winter (only attach and feed once a year in the warmer months) and we’ve had several periods of freezing weather. I’m a vet and see ‘lumps’ that are actually ticks and ‘ticks’ that are lumps regularly. Can you see legs?

SirSniffsAlot · 21/01/2023 13:50

It's easy with the tool. Takes about 3 seconds. However, a tick is likely to have dropped off itself by tonight. It will feed until full then drop off the dog.

It is well worth having the tool and training the dog staying still while you do something like this - well before you need to. Tricks like 'lie flat' while you faff with his belly, for example. Invaluable if/when you need it and worth training long before you do.

Original poster

Aria20 · 21/01/2023 14:44

@Patchworksack it's tiny and black/dark brown red. I will get another good look in a bit when she wakes up and try get a photo. It's def not a lump tho. I thought it was a scab at first but then googled pictures of ticks and it looks like these but smaller and darker. I did think they were more of a summer thing but she has been in a forest with long grass and rivers so I guess its possible?

OP posts:

ilovesushi · 21/01/2023 14:46

They are fairly easy to remove if you have one of those little plastic tick removers but it will be dependent on if your dog stays still. We are in an area with lots of ticks and in the summer I'm frequently removing them from the cats and the DC. Dog has had a couple and it's been more challenging because she'll wriggle around wanting you to stop. We've been more successful when DH feeds her liver pate from a tube to distract her and I twirl the tick out. The nymphs are very tiny and hard to remove and have had to get them removed by a nurse - for the DC that is, not the animals!

ilovesushi · 21/01/2023 14:49

I have mistaken scabs for ticks before, but the tick will be smooth while a scab is rougher.

ZZTopGuitarSolo · 21/01/2023 15:09

I’m in New England and have a dog and two cats so I remove ticks daily for most of the year.

I have someone else hold the animal still, use tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the head as possible, pull firmly and they come out whole. I put the tick either into alcohol or into our garbage disposal to kill it.

Yes you should check over the animal for any more ticks - where there’s one there’s a good chance there will be more.

We find ticks on ourselves periodically too…

tizwozliz · 21/01/2023 15:12

That Google photo you've posted doesn't look like any of the ticks we've had. All have had a smooth/shiny surface and you can clearly see they're only attached at the mouth.

We've always found them fairly easy to remove once we've located them.

ShouldIknowthisalready · 21/01/2023 17:17

Ticks are really really really easy to remove. Do not waste a vets time by taking your dog to them to remove a tick.

Get a tick remover Otom Tick twister for example. Pop it around the tic and turn. All the tick will be removed.

Get your dog used to being touched on all parts of their body and it is extremely straightforward.

ShouldIknowthisalready · 21/01/2023 17:19

You can usually see the legs if it is a tic.

giveadogabeer · 21/01/2023 18:38

www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/otom-tick-twister-remover

these are what you need

Original poster

Aria20 · 21/01/2023 18:53

Well I've gone to look at it again and I can't find it now!!! She was licking the area earlier so maybe she ate it or it dropped off? Who knows but at least I now have the tick remover tool

OP posts:

clipettyclop · 13/05/2026 06:43

i just removed a huge tick from my dog’s head and it was so easy I wanted to share the method. I googled it first because I haven’t got tick removal tool.

I made a little pool of washing up liquid on a balled up tissue and held it on the tick for a full 30 seconds (helped that dog was relaxed in her bed at time) - when I took it away there was the the squirming tick on the tissue. Flushed down toilet, done. So simple.

Flip