Parasites like fleas and ticks are one of the worst things most dog owners will ever face. Ticks not only harm the dog by making them scratch and robbing them of nutrients, but they also can transmit diseases. The most well-known and dangerous of them is the Lyme disease.
This disease is transmitted when the tick releases toxins in the dog’s bloodstream, which sends the Borrelia bacterium into your dog’s system. This is the bacteria that causes the disease. That’s why you must do an amazing job at preventing that your dog is infested by ticks in the first place.
So, due to the dangers of Lyme disease, you must know how to remove a tick from a dog without tweezers. The main reason is that there are only a handful of ways to do this safely. If you don’t have tweezers available at your house, which many people don’t, you should know how to safely remove a tick without tweezers.
Failing to do so may get your dog contaminated by the Borrelia bacterium, which will start a chain of events that’ll cause every dog lover’s worst nightmare. Having your dog sick and suffering. That’s why it’s important to know how to handle this the best way possible.
Below you can see different methods that you can remove the tick safely. Also, there are the unsafe methods that have an explanation on why you shouldn’t try them. Popular wisdom is not a safe bet when it comes to this. There are a lot of methods that people recommend but are not safe for your dog. What you should be trying to avoid is the tick from vomiting or squeezing it in a way that gets its gut contents to penetrate your dog’s skin. That’s how they contract the disease.
What you’re also going to learn is that prevention is the best thing that you can do. Now, if you’re reading this because your dog currently has a tick on him, you can skip to the methods below. Just remember to read it carefully to see which ones work and which ones don’t. Also, pay attention to how to do them properly. As you know by now, any mistake can result in disastrous consequences here.
If your dog has too many ticks, you should also consider taking him to the vet. When it comes to ticks a few is something that you can handle, but too many may be better handled by a professional. Also, consider having aa pests control service to visit your house to make sure that every corner is thoroughly checked for infestations.
So, read the article until the end to learn all the methods that are safe and work, and what you should definitely not do it. Removing a tick is simple and even easy with the right method, but it can become a disaster if you don’t do it right. The important thing is to remove the tick without hurting or contaminating your dog or yourself. Make sure of this, and you’re good to go.
Try Liquid Soap First
The liquid soap method is one of the best tick removal methods out there. It’s the best when you don’t have tweezers or professional tick removal tool. This method should allow you to remove the tick without contaminating your dog or putting your health at risk. All you’re going to need is cotton swabs or cotton balls. It’s also a good idea to have latex gloves and a Ziploc bag.
Now, the first thing that you’re going to do is to get liquid soap – preferably made of natural ingredients – and pour a nice quantity on the cotton balls. The next step is the logical one. Hold the tick with the cotton ball for 30 seconds. This should be enough time for the tick to remove its head from under your dog’s skin. Remember that this is important because if you just rip it off, you risk contamination.
Once the tick retracts and removes its head from under your dog’s skin, you should have it in the cotton ball completely. Make sure to hold it firm enough to not have it slip, but not too tight so you crush it. As you now know, crushing the tick releases the toxins that transmit the diseases.
Finally, put the tick in a Ziploc and take it to the vet to check for any bacteria or virus. Do not flush the tick or throw it anywhere that can get out. So, make sure that you have cotton balls and liquid soap at your disposal for these kinds of situations. The Mrs. Meyers Clean Day is the perfect liquid soap for this particular situation because it’s made of natural ingredients and will force the tick to remove itself. Check it out here.
A Professional Tick Remover Tool Is The Only Safe Thing
The liquid soap method is a great one, maybe the best when it comes to improvising. This is the method that you should think about when you don’t have much else to deal with the situation. Now, if you have a dog, the best that you can do is to prepare yourself beforehand. Especially if you’re always taking your furry friend for a nice day at the park. That’s when getting a professional tick remover tool is recommended.
This tool is designed in a way that easily and more importantly, safely removes the tick from under your dog’s skin. The tick places its head under the dog’s skin, which makes it more difficult to be removed. You must be careful not to crush it and leave the head inside or have the tick releasing toxins through its gut’s content. That’s why removing it safely is important. That’s how the tick remover tool comes in.
What you’re going to do is to place the tool, which actually looks a bit like a tweezer, under the tick. The tool will remove the tick’s head without breaking, crushing, or squeezing it, which will prevent any toxins from being released. The best thing about this tool is that it removes the tick quickly and safely.
So, make sure that you get one since it’s the best solution long-term. The metal ones are the best ones due to durability. When it comes to design, the recommendation is to stick with something that it’s easy to carry and not lose it like the ones that are shaped as a keychain. This way you can always remove tick right away. The Original Tick Key is the best one to fit those descriptions. You should definitely check it out here.
Burnt Match Offers Risks But Works
It’s common knowledge that burnt matches can kill ticks. You can either use it to remove the tick or to burn it after you’ve removed it. Now, this is usually a terrible idea. The thing is that using burnt matches can cause two things. It can either make the tick throw up before you removed it, which would mean that the bacteria would get into your dog’s system. Or, it can burn the tick to the point that the gut’s content would get out either way.
Now, it’s enough to say that this is bad. Terrible even. What you’re trying to avoid here the most is contamination. That’s exactly what using burnt matches will do. Or at least increase the odds that it’ll happen.
The best course of action here is to not use this method. It’s unsafe and the chances that you’ll end up causing the toxins to be released are too great to even try it. Now, apart from that, the burnt match does usually removes the tick, but not without big changes of contamination.
So, the best thing that you can do to protect your four-legged friend is to use safe methods. The liquids soap and the tick remover tool are great options for you to consider. Just avoid burnt matches at all costs here. Maybe even taking your dog to the vet to have it removed could be an option.
Needles May Release Toxins
Tweezers and needles are the most popular methods to remove ticks. So, when you don’t have tweezers, many people try to use needles. It makes sense since they do generally work. The problem is that they usually tear apart the tick, which obviously means that the toxins are released into the dog’s bloodstream.
The best that you can do is the same that you would with burnt matches. Not use it at all. Needles are too risky. Plus, if you do happen to get the needle contaminated, it could pass the bacteria to you. While managing the needle, you can get infected with any skin contact or maybe pinching yourself. Direct contact with your blood would be disastrous.
As you can see, it’d be a huge problem for you. That’s why using needles to remove ticks are not only not recommended, but best left out as an option. The liquid soap method should work if you don’t have the remover tool. It’s easier and faster to use than most other things.
So, just make sure that you don’t use needles. They’re dangerous for you and your dog. It could also hurt them since there’s a chance that you don’t remove the tick’s head correctly. That’s why to have the tick remover tool or if it’s an emergency and you can get one, try the liquid soap method.
Rubbing Petroleum Jelly Is A Big No
Continuing talking about the methods that you should not try, let’s talk about rubbing petroleum jelly. As you may have noticed by now, there are more methods that don’t work that there are methods that do. The main reason is that removing ticks is way more dangerous and serious than most people realize.
Certain methods cause the tick to salivate or regurgitate under the host’s skin. Heating needles, burnt matches, and rubbing petroleum jelly can cause this. That’s why you should not apply petroleum jelly to this problem. It would only make things worse. When removing a tick, you must be careful to remove the mouthpart above everything else. Not only because of the Lyme disease but other infections that it may cause.
You should also be careful not to twist the tick or do anything that can squeeze it or tear it apart. Anything that doesn’t safely remove it, it’s a big danger. The petroleum jelly will heat up the tick and cause it to release the toxins that you should be trying to avoid.
So, if anyone recommends you to rub petroleum jelly not only avoid it at all costs but also warn them not to do it. Pet owners must help each other to make sure that every dog is safe. Make sure to stick to what works
Cigarette Lighter May Be Painful
If you stick around, you can see more methods that work below. For now, let’s see one more thing that you should avoid. Cigarette lighters will be painful for the dog and will make the tick regurgitate. The heat causes the parasite to vomit and release the toxins under the dog’s skin. It’s important to understand that the tick places its mouthpart under the dog’s skin when it bites him. That’s why its saliva and regurgitation will go straight to the dg’s system.
Now, the cigarette lighter will also be painful for your dog. It can not only burn his skin but it will definitely hurt him. Dog’s skins are sensitive and using a cigarette lighter to remove a tick is dangerous and even a bit cruel.
That’s why you should never use this method. It sure could get the tick out but at the cost of potential Lyme disease infection and pain. Now, it’s important to talk about the methods that don’t work, so people don’t continue to put their dog’s lives in danger without knowing it.
So, cross cigarette lighters from your tick removers’ list right away. It’s definitely neither a safe nor a good option. Below you can see a system that you can use to make sure you not only know how to remove the tick but also prevent them in the first place.
Prevent Ticks So You Don’t Need To Remove Them
This is obvious and easy to grasp, but it needs to be said. The best way to fight tick infestations is to prevent them in the first place. The truth is that when you find a tick, there’s a big fat chance that there are other or eggs around waiting to attack. Not only that but many of the ways to kill it apply only to the tick and not the other stages of the life of this parasite.
For you to understand it better, a tick, in the form that we all know, is the last stage of growth of the parasite. Before that the tick was an egg, then a six-legged larva, eight-legged nymph, and then the tick. This means that some of the methods that would kill the tick would not kill the egg or the larva. That’s why prevention is the best way.
Now, to effectively prevent infestations, you should take care of more than just your dog. Obviously, the place to start is with protecting your dog. Think about baths, collars, and pill. Still, you have to take care of the environment with the same diligence as you would your dog. If the dog is protected but the environment is not, everyone in the house is in danger.
So, get started by protecting your house. The best way is to clean it with products that are poisonous for tick, but obviously not for dogs. Clean once a week, and your house should be well-protected. The Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Kennel Spray is the best way to thoroughly clean your house to protect against these parasites. Grab yours here for full protection.
Anti-Tick Soap Is Tick Prevention 101
Everyone knows about the shampoos that kill ticks. Still, we cannot talk about ticks and not talk about them. It’s prevention 101 and you should not neglect this step. Sure you must know how to efficiently remove a tick from your dog, but you should do your best to also prevent it. Not only that but the shampoo also removes the tick that already present.
All you have to do is to give your dog a nice bath with a premium quality shampoo that kills ticks. Usually what you have to do is to massage your dog with the shampoo until it forms a lot of foam.
Then, you let the shampoo act for 10 minutes. This is enough to kill all the ticks that are on your dog’s skin. This is quite effective against ticks that are in hard-to-reach places. Finally, you remove the shampoo and remove the dead ticks that didn’t go down with the water with a comb.
So, to make sure this works, don’t forget to use high-quality anti-tick dog shampoo. The best ones act fast and thoroughly on your dog’s skin, killing all the ticks. The Sentry Flea & Tick Shampoo is a great recommendation because it not only works but does so quite fast. Click to view pricing on Amazon here.
Tick And Flea Collars Are A Must-Have
Anti-tick dog collars are quite popular and known to most god owners, but a lot of people still don’t bother to use it. The truth is that this is one of the best methods to prevent ticks because it’s non-invasive, and works like a charm. That’s why you should definitely think about giving it a shot. The anti-tick collar will work as a repellent of ticks and a lot of times fleas as well. This will depend on the brand, so make sure to check that out first.
As much as it sounds too simple, the collar really does work. All you need to be careful about is the frequency that you should change it. Some models require that you change every month, others every 90 days, so you should pay attention to that. You don’t want your dog to wear an expired collar since it’ll offer no protection.
If you need help picking an anti-tick dog collar, stick to the ones that have high durability and that also protect against fleas. Also, check if the size fits your dog. Look into the material as well since it interferes with how long the repellent feature lasts. The Seresto Flea and Tick Collar is the best one for any dog breed. It lasts a long time and really does work. Your furry friend will be protected for a long time. Take a look here.
Remove Ticks Within 24-36 Hours Of A Bite
Now that you know how to prevent ticks, how to remove them, and how not to remove the tick as well, it’s time for more important information.
It’s nearly impossible to know when your dog was first bitten by a particular tick, but you should be concerned when the tick bite has happened 4 hours or more. This is enough time for the toxins to have been released and working on his system. This is enough time for you to take your dog to the vet to run some tests.
Now, apart from that, within 24-36 hours of a bite is when things get really complicated. This is the time that the Lyme disease bacteria will have entered your dog’s bloodstream. It’s important to remember that this is not guaranteed, but it’s what the data shows in most cases. That’s why it’s important to catch the tick early and remove it as soon as possible and as safe as possible.
So, don’t skip a daily check on your dog. This is for his health and yours as well. Even with a dog collar, it’s recommended that you check your dog just for precaution. Once you do find a tick, remember to use a tick remover tool to safely remove the tick without leaving its mouthpart under your dog’s skin.
Do Not Remove The Tick With Your Fingers Or Anything That Can Crush It
A lot has been said of what not to do, but this is perhaps the most important one. Many people try to remove ticks with their fingers. Worse than that, they do it with bare hands. This is a great recipe for disaster. You can not only get your dog infected but you as well. Enough to say, do not do it under any circumstance.
The reason is easy to stop. Removing tick with your fingers can crush them. As much as their exoskeleton is strong, our fingers are stronger. So, any pressure that is not too strong for our fingers is enough to crush it. This would result in the toxins being released, which could also result in the Borrelia bacterium being released as well.
Another problem is that when you do it with bare hands you’re also coming into contact with the toxins as well. If they penetrate your skin, which is likely, you’d get sick as well. That’s why you should never remove ticks with your bare hands. Make sure to wear gloves and use the appropriate tools for the job. Never use anything that can crush the tick, especially while it’s still on your dog.
So, think twice before removing a tick without proper tools. Make sure that you have the tick remover tool or try a method like the liquid soap. Anything that can crush, squeeze, twist, tear, or break the tick is a big fat no. Also, make sure that you don’t come into direct contact with it.
Always Check Your Dog After A Walk
The last tip is something that you’re going to find boring, but it’s important. Always check your dog after a walk. Actually, always check your dog after he has been in contact with other dogs or strange environments. Now, this is boring, and it gets more boring the bigger your dog is. Still, it’s important and great for prevention.
The first place to look is in the favorite areas that ticks love to hide. Inside your dog’s ears, paws, belly, genitals, junctions. Now, you must check everything because the tick may not have had the time to hide in its favorite places, but they’re usually there. They love warm, dark places and those are ideal for them.
Now, if you use a dog collar, you probably won’t need to do this. Especially, if you’ve picked a premium quality one. Unless you’re a little too careful, then you can check just to be at ease with the risks. The best way to do this is to use a comb that is perfect to let you see your dog’s fur thoroughly.
So, make sure that you always check your dog after a walk, especially if he doesn’t wear an antic-tick dog collar. Use a comb to help you be more thorough in your search. The GoPets Dematting Comb is great for this since it allows you to separate and stretch the fur no matter what breed your dog is. Take a look here.
Final Thoughts
So, this is how to remove a tick from a dog without tweezers. Remember of all the methods, especially the ones that you should not do. Ticks aren’t the end of the world, but they’re dangerous in the diseases that they can transmit, so treat it with the seriousness that it requires.
Also, remember that if your dog is infested with them, it’s a good idea to take your best friend to the vet. Remember the methods that work, but more importantly, work to prevent them as well. Do this, and your dog’s health will be in a good place.
