How to remove a tick on your pet with pictures

How to remove a tick

It’s important to remove any ticks you find on your pet, carefully and correctly. Not following recommended steps could lead to infections or worse, disease. Here is our vet-recommended step-by-step guide to removing ticks:

1. Prepare and position yourself

Firstly, pop on some gloves to protect yourself! Then grab your tick hook. These are available at most pet stores and online retailers. Sit down or kneel next to your pet, make sure they are comfortable and gently hold their head still. Having a helper to keep your pet relaxed can really help, especially if your floof is the anxious type.

2. Find the tick

Ticks aren’t that big to the eye, so root around and find the tick. Push your pet’s fur away from the tick, to give yourself clear space to remove it (sometimes hair clips can help with this). 

3. Position your tick hook

Hold the tick hook with the notch facing the skin. The hook should be placed as close to the skin's surface as possible.

4. Twist and pull

Gently but firmly, twist the tick hook a few times in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction. This action should help to loosen the tick's grip on your pet's skin.

5. Lift the tick

With a slow and steady motion, lift the tick hook and the attached tick away from your pet's skin. The tick hook's design allows for easy removal without squeezing the tick's body (squeezing can possibly release harmful bacteria into your pet's bloodstream).

6. Double check

Once the tick is removed, check to ensure that no parts of the tick are left behind. Check for residue. If you notice anything, gently remove them using the tick hook or consult your vet just to be sure.

7. Clean and disinfect

After removing the tick, clean your pet’s skin with an antiseptic solution to prevent infection. Don't forget to wash your own hands too!

8. Keep an eye on your pet

Give your pet a once over for any other ticks, or signs of redness around the area you’ve just removed the tick from. Keep an eye on the tick bite site for any signs of infection, such as swelling, or discharge. If you notice any concerning symptoms, consult your vet.

9. Protect your pet

Using a vet-approved preventative like Itch Flea Treatment for dogs and Itch Flea Treatment for cats (protects against fleas, ticks and lice too!) is the most effective way to kill ticks. Nothing can stop a tick attaching itself to your pet, but Itch Flea will kill it within 48 hours. 

Tips from vet, Dr Zoe

Removing a tick takes concentration and proper procedure. Here's what our Head Vet, Dr Zoe Costigan BVSC BSC(HONS) CERT AVP MRCVS recommends:

Chat to our Vet Team

Hats off, you’re a top pet parent! Cheers to your pet for being tick-free. Share this blog with a friend if you found it helpful. 

If you’ve got this far and you are still concerned, why not chat to our friendly and qualified Vet Team?