Dogs are one of life’s greatest joys; however, caring for a pet dog has its drawbacks. One of the more repulsive disadvantages is having to remove and kill a tick, or worse, numerous ticks, from your dog! The premise is so revolting that we’re ready to wager that’s why you’re here! So, how can you rapidly kill a tick and remove a dog? and how to kill a tick after it has been removed.
Most experts agree that your dog should remove the tick before attempting to kill it. It is critical to understand the proper tick removal method for your dog, as well as how to kill it. It is also critical to understand how to keep your dog from picking up a tick and which products kill both ticks and eggs.
How to Kill a Tick and Remove On a Dog
If you discover one or more ticks on your dog, personally removing the tick is advised. A tick can be promptly killed by immersing it in Listerine or rubbing alcohol. However, while these medicines will kill the tick, they will remain adhered to your dog’s skin.
The Best Ways to Kill and Remove a Tick from Your Dog
Follow the instructions below to safely remove and kill a tick from your dog:
- Grasp the tick near the dog’s skin with clean, fine-tipped tweezers.
- Gently lift the tick in an upward motion with consistent pressure.
- When removing the tick, do not twist, jerk, or compress it. This may leave the head lodged, making it more difficult to remove from a dog’s skin or fur.
- If the head becomes disconnected, carefully remove it with tweezers.
- If the mouthparts do not come out naturally, leave them to do so.
- Use alcohol or soap and water to thoroughly clean the afflicted area and your hands.
- Use alcohol or original amber-colored Listerine to kill the tick if it is alive when removed, place it in a sealed plastic bag or container, seal it in adhesive tape, or flush the tick down the toilet.
It is critical to remember that many home treatments do not work. Furthermore, some solutions may be hazardous or deadly to your dog or other pets. Some natural medicines, for example, may be okay for your dog but harmful to your cats! Furthermore, some at-home cures are not only harmful but also dangerous.
The following home remedies should not be used to kill a tick on your dog:
- Nail polish
- Dish soap
- Essential oils
- Flammable materials like gasoline
- Fire, flame, or high heat
- Corrosive chemicals like bleach
We can’t say enough about how important it is not to use fire, flame, or things that are easy to catch on fire to kill a tick. Furthermore, many of these products may be harmful to your dog if ingested. Do not use any form of chemical or substance on your dog unless it has been approved by a reputable veterinarian.
Products Available That Kill a Tick on a Dog
Many commercially available medicines can kill not only adult ticks but also their eggs on your dog. This frequently has the extra benefit of killing ticks on surfaces your dog comes into contact with. You can also make efforts to get rid of ticks on yourself and your property!
Tick and flea products for sale include:
- Use monthly spot treatments like Frontline to kill ticks and fleas.
- Oral treatments kill ticks and fleas without exposing the dog to the medication through the skin.
- Flea and tick wash for dogs that kill any ticks on your dog immediately and for up to two weeks.
- Tick repellents that remain on the skin and fur. This approach is not recommended for puppies under four months of age, pregnant dogs, or nursing dogs.
- Tick collars that protect your pet’s head and neck. This strategy will not always keep ticks off your body.
Tick powders and sprays for dogs are available that kill ticks instantly and last up to a week. Remember to always use vet-approved and safe products and chemicals on your dog!
How to Kill a Tick After Removal
Ticks are infamous for sticking around after they’ve tasted your dog. But these bloodsucking animals are more than just a nuisance; they can also spread diseases that can be very dangerous. If you notice a tick on your four-legged pet, you must act quickly. Learn how to safely and easily kill a tick once it has been removed from your dog.
Ticks are blood-sucking parasites that live in long grass and forests, waiting to attach to your dog when they pass by. Furthermore, ticks can be difficult to remove once attached because they grasp your pet’s skin, dig their strong mouthparts into it, and then hold on fast while feeding on your pet’s blood.
Ticks do fall off on their own once they stop eating, but this can take days, so don’t be tempted to wait. The longer they remain connected, the more likely it is that they will become infected.
#1. Put on your gloves.
When dealing with ticks, always use gloves. Ticks on your dog are highly effective disease vectors, and some of these diseases can infect you and your family as well.
#2. Maintain your pet’s calm
Remove ticks from your dog only when he or she is calmly sitting or lying down. To gain a good grip on the tick with a tick hook, your dog must remain still. If you try to remove the tick while your pet is moving, you risk leaving a piece of the tick on your dog’s skin, which can lead to infection.
#3. Make the tick visible
Once your dog is in the proper posture, carefully split his fur around the tick and maintain it flat with one hand so you can twist the tick out with the other. Don’t worry, the tick isn’t moving rapidly!
#4. Gently twist and pull the tick
A tick twister, sometimes known as a tick hook, is designed to enter the parasite’s body and twist it out without squeezing. These hooks are available from high-street pharmacists, local veterinarians, and some supermarkets.
#5. Get rid of the tick
You must capture and kill the tick to prevent it from crawling away or out of the bin and biting your dog or one of your family members again! Drop the tick into a jar or sealable container, pour some alcohol over it, close the lid, and place it in the garbage can outside your home.
#6. Cleaning
Wipe the area where your pet was bitten with an antiseptic that is safe for pets. Then, throw away the gloves and wash your hands well. Disinfect your tick hook and save it somewhere secure for future use.
#7. Reward your pet after tick removal
When it’s all done, lavish your dog with attention and praise for its wonderful behavior.
#8. Keep track of your dog
Once a tick has been attached, the best method to reduce the risk of transmitting the disease to your dog is to remove it securely as soon as possible. However, you never know how long the tick was attached before you discovered it, so your dog could have been exposed to diseases that ticks can carry.
#9. Use a tick preventative on your dog regularly.
To lessen the likelihood of having to remove ticks from your dog, use a tick treatment regularly. Some tick products (for example, tablets) are active in the bloodstream, which means ticks must bite and feed on your pet to be destroyed.
Tick Removal Methods That May Harm Your Dog
While there is a wealth of information available on the internet on how to remove pests such as ticks and fleas from your dog, some methods are simply harmful. Both commercial products and home cures may endanger your dog! Before using any method to get rid of fleas and ticks on your dog, you should always talk to your vet first. You can also look at our top selections for dog flea and tick treatment.
The following substances are known to be dangerous to dogs:
- Prominent permethrin levels
- Essential oils such as clove and cinnamon. Gagging, drooling, frothing at the mouth, skin irritation, lethargy, or liver damage can all result from these.
- Any product intended for human consumption or use on other animals or cattle.
Also, treatments like dish soap or vinegar don’t kill ticks or keep them from getting on a dog very well or at all. While numerous home remedies extol the virtues of employing these items, none have been confirmed to work.
When Should You Take Your Dog to the Vet?
There are times when you should take your dog to the vet rather than remove ticks yourself. Furthermore, some ticks can spread deadly infections to your dog. A full-blown tick infestation is also a potentially fatal ailment for any pet. This is true for both adult and puppy dogs. We strongly advise you to take any tick-infested pet to the vet as soon as possible.
You should take your dog to the vet when:
- There is a rash near or surrounding the bite.
- Your dog has a lot of ticks. A big tick infestation should be handled by a competent veterinarian. Attempting to remove many ticks may endanger your dog, and multiple ticks may necessitate additional medical attention!
- There are feverish symptoms, rashes, or lethargy.
- There are further signs of sickness.
Remember that your vet is your best and most trusted source for finding out what’s wrong with your health. Any symptom of sickness caused by a tick bite should be discussed with your veterinarian. When dealing with so many ticks, a trip to the vet is very important. Keep in mind that ticks are blood-sucking parasites!
Checking your Dog for Ticks
If you reside in or plan to visit areas of the country where ticks are prevalent, your dog may be at risk. You must be watchful since your dog may be unaware that it has become a blood meal for a hungry tick.
#1. After “walkies,” thoroughly inspect your dog.
Regular tick checks are required for dogs who walk through tall grass and wooded areas. When you get home from your stroll, rub your hands throughout your dog’s body to feel for a “small bump” caused by an attached tick. Ticks commonly attach to your dog’s head and ears, as well as the area under the collar and between the toes, armpits, and crotch, but they can attach anywhere.
#2. Ticks on long-haired dogs can be found using a hairdryer.
Ticks are easily hidden in long-haired or thick-furred animals. You might try using a hairdryer on the cool setting to help split the fur and find the tick more easily.
#3. Keep an eye out for scratching and biting.
Some dogs may itch, scratch, or bite at their skin if a tick is on it, but most dogs can’t tell when a tick is on them. If you live in an area where ticks are common, you should check your dog’s coat often. If a tick has attached itself to your dog’s ear, it may shake its head more frequently to try to get rid of the tick irritation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kills ticks on dogs instantly?
If you discover one or more ticks on your dog, personally removing the tick is advised. A tick can be promptly killed by immersing it in Listerine or rubbing alcohol.
Does vinegar kill ticks on dogs?
Ticks and fleas can be kept away from your pets with a DIY spray solution of one part vinegar and one part water. Fill a spray bottle halfway with the solution and spray it directly on your pets, taking care not to get it in their eyes.
How long can a tick live on a dog?
The males can stay on the host indefinitely, eating and mating alternately. Females feed, mate, and get engorged before dropping off the animal to lay their eggs. “Adult American dog ticks can survive without nourishment for up to two years.”
Can you put hydrogen peroxide on a dog tick?
Cleaning up the mess. Keep in mind that any contact with the tick’s blood may result in an infection being transmitted to your dog or possibly you. Disinfect the area with 3% hydrogen peroxide, a popular disinfectant. It is used to treat tick bites because the oxygen it contains kills the Lyme disease germs.
Related Articles:
