Do you have a dog or cat as a pet and do you come across a tick on the skin? This is not an emergency, but it is still important to remove a tick as quickly as possible in the correct manner. A tick can transmit diseases to your pet. When a tick is attached to the skin of your dog or cat for about 24 hours, it is possible that it transmits diseases. For example, ticks can transmit Lyme disease and that is why it is important to remove the ticks in time. It is quite easy to remove a tick, but it is important that you keep the tips below in mind.
Tips for removing ticks
It often happens that people try to remove a tick that is attached to the skin by hand. However, this is not recommended. When the tick is removed with the fingers, it often happens that the head of the tick breaks off and remains stuck in the skin. This can have negative consequences for the health of the dog or cat. The tick should also not be anesthetized with alcohol beforehand. When ticks are anesthetized with alcohol, they can actually vomit their stomach contents onto the dog’s skin.
To remove the tick correctly, you should use tick tweezers. It is recommended that you always have tick tweezers at home if you have a dog or a cat. This way, you can always use the tick tweezers immediately when you come across a tick.
When using tick tweezers, grab the tick as close to the dog or cat’s skin as possible. Then you should turn the tweezers until the tick comes loose from the skin by itself. It makes no difference whether you turn it left or right. Has the tick been removed from your pet’s skin? Always check whether the tick’s head is still attached to the body in the tick tweezers and has not remained in the skin. Has the head remained in the skin? Then use a splinter to remove it.
After removing
After a tick has been removed, a lump may develop where the tick was. This is not a problem. The lump will disappear over time. In the period after the tick has been removed, it is important to keep a close eye on your dog or cat if it shows symptoms. Is your dog or cat very lethargic, nauseous or showing other symptoms of illness? Then it is best to contact a veterinarian.
