Spot…Remove…Treat!

Varsha Verma
& Rocky
Pet parents would agree that seeing a tick on your pooch is one of the most dreadful things in the life of a pet parent. These ticks are not only harmful to your dog but also to humans. Here’s how to spot, remove and treat these creeping crawlies. –by Varsha Verma

Dogs love to spend time outside. They look forward to their walks as they get to sniff around new scents, mark their territories and relieve themselves. With walks come dirty paws and sometimes even ticks. So, it is important to check your dog for ticks on a daily basis.

Spot the tick…

• Find them ASAP: Run your fingers slowly over your pooch’s body. If you feel a bump or swollen area, part his hair to see the skin below. You may find a tick there. 
• Check the problem areas: Ticks tend to hide between your dog’s toes, around their legs, near the ears, under the collar and even their face and neck. 
• Find the tick: There are a variety of ticks. Some can be black, brown or tan and they have eight legs. They can be tiny and some can even get swollen and become the size of a pea. 

Remove the tick…

It is important to remove the tick as soon as you see it.

• Tools required: Get hold of gloves, clean tweezers/tick remover tool, antiseptic cream and isopropyl alcohol.

• Be safe: Use gloves to remove ticks.

• Removing using tweezers: Use a tweezers around the tick as close to your dog’s skin as possible and pull it gently in a straight motion. Be sure to remove the complete tick.

• Removing using a tick remover: Gently press the tick remover on your pet’s skin near the tick. Slide the notch under the tick to pull it.

• Proper disposal: Drop the tick in isopropyl alcohol and clean the tweezers also with it.

• Clean properly: Clean your pet’s wound with antiseptic and wash your hands properly.

• Monitor the wound: Check the area for any infection. If you find any infection, consult your vet.

Treatment for tick control…

• Comb regularly: Comb your pet regularly with a flea comb.

• Keep environment clean: Ticks tend to hide in carpets, curtains, etc. So, vacuum clean frequently. Do not let your dog near bushes or tall grasses. Wash his bedding frequently.

• Shampoo your dog: If required, use an anti-tick shampoo for your dog.

• Use tick control products: Consult your vet for spot-on treatments, collars, tick powder, tick sprays and even tablets that can prevent, repel dog ticks or kill them.