tick removal

What NOT To Do When Removing Ticks

Many people enjoy going outdoors during the summer. If you will be spending time camping or hiking this year, you might come across ticks. Ticks bury their head in their host and feed on their blood. They can be tricky to spot and even more difficult to remove. Although the internet is full of tips on how to remove ticks, many of these methods are ineffective and dangerous.

Ticks carry several diseases. Just one bite can lead to serious illness. It’s extremely important to protect yourself against these common pests. When spending time in wooded or grassy areas, wear long pants, long sleeves and other protective clothing. Always keep your grass cut short and store wood neatly, away from wooded areas.

If you find a tick on you or your pet, it’s important that you remove it properly. Improper removal increases the chance of infection and can cause the tick’s head to break away from its body. The following techniques should NEVER be used to remove ticks.

Twisting the Tick

Although using fine-tipped tweezers can be an effective way to remove ticks, you should never twist the tick as you remove it. Using a twisting motion can cause the tick’s head to break away from its body, leaving it stuck under your skin.

Burning the Tick

Aside from the possibility of burning yourself, burning a tick can irritate it, causing it to regurgitate. This increases the chance of contracting a harmful disease.

Drowning/Suffocating the Tick

Attempting to drown or suffocate a tick with gasoline, rubbing alcohol, petroleum jelly or something similar will not work. It can take hours for the tick to die, which gives it ample time to spread disease.

Safe Tick Removal

After spending time outdoors, check your pet thoroughly for ticks. Check between the pads of their feet, their ears and through their fur. If you find a tick, try not to panic. Use fine-tipped tweezers or hemostats to grasp the tick close to the skin. Pull straight up slowly to fully remove it. If you are nervous or unsure how to remove ticks, consult with your groomer or veterinarian.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers pet grooming from our full service salon in Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 for more information about tick removal.

Removing Ticks From Pets

Humans, birds, reptiles, wild and domestic animals are all susceptible to ticks. Ticks feed on the blood of their host and can sometimes pass serious diseases. In fact, pets can contract multiple diseases from just one tick bite. Ticks must be removed carefully and should never be removed with bare hands. The following steps will help you safely remove ticks from your pets:

Start by filling a jar halfway with isopropyl alcohol. Set the jar on a stable surface where it will not get tipped over.
Have another person restrain your pet. Have them gently stroke, praise and reassure your pet to keep it calm.
Put on latex gloves to avoid direct contact with the ticks.
Dampen a cotton ball with alcohol and gently dab it around the tick. This will disinfect the area and reduce the chance of your pet developing an infection.
Using tweezers or a special tick-removing device, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull the tick out by applying steady pressure. Be careful not to jerk or twist the tick. This can cause its mouthparts to detach inside of your pet’s skin.
Place the tick inside of the jar of alcohol. This will preserve it in case laboratory identification or testing becomes necessary. Do not flush the tick down the toilet as doing so will not reliably kill it.
Disinfect the area around the bite wound with more alcohol.

Ticks should be dealt with as quickly as possible. Inspect your pet regularly for ticks, especially after walking in grassy areas.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers professional pet grooming services in Fountain Valley, California. We also offer mobile pet grooming to all areas of Orange County. If you are unsure if your pet has ticks, or how to remove them yourself, we would be happy to show you. For more information, or to schedule your next grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.