There’s a tick on the dog! What to do next, in a moment…

The next time you find a tick on your dog or cat – don’t just rip it of willy-nilly...  

You’ll need some tools first, including a pair of tweezers, a baggie and some alcohol. Using the tweezers, grasp the tick as closely to the skin as possible. Gently and slowly pull the tick out – and try to get the whole thing, including the biting head. Do NOT use Vaseline on the tick or touch a burned match head to it – and avoid squeezing the tick too hard. You want to prevent any of the tick’s contents from being ejected onto you or your pet. 

Treat the area where the tick was with some alcohol – but wait until the tick is out. If you suspect the tick is a deer tick – it can be tested for Lyme disease. Alcohol and antiseptics could interfere with the testing process, so keep the tick naked in a Ziploc baggie or sealed container.