This time of year, it seems like no matter how you try to avoid them, ticks will find their way onto our pets. Those of us that grew up in the Billings area know all about the power of the tick check – for both people and pets. Ticks in this region carry a variety of diseases, including Lyme Disease, so it’s important to tick check your pet daily this time of year.
Unless your pet is very patient, it is best that you check for ticks when your pet is tired. Consider checking for ticks after a long walk or vigorous playtime. If your pet is excitable, try to enlist the help of a second person.
Ticks are best found by touch, especially if your pet has long fur or is a dark color. If done right, checking for ticks will feel like a good massage, and be something that your pet looks forward to each day.
Step 1: Paws and Legs
Starting with your pet’s paws, feel between each toe for bumps. Check for ticks on the top and bottom of the paws, and around the paw pads. Use your fingers to massage up each leg, against the grain of the fur.
Pay special attention to the armpit area, as ticks love the lack of fur and warmth of this area. Ticks also tend to hide where the skin dips down, between the bones of the leg.
Step 2: Belly and Back
Finding ticks along the back can be particularly difficult on pets with long fur. Be sure to rake your fingers against the grain carefully, feeling for anything that isn’t smooth.
Ticks can range in size, from that of a pinhead to a grape, depending on how long they have been feeding. A small tick that has not gorged itself on blood will feel like a pimple on the skin. If you feel a bump, separate the fur and inspect the area under a bright light.
When checking the belly, be sure to pay special attention to the groin and tail area. Ticks love warm, dark areas of the body, so it is not unusual to find a hitchhiker in those sensitive spots.
Step 3: Head and Neck
The most common areas to find ticks are around the collar and ears. Be diligent when checking these areas. Remove collars and check inside of the ear, as well. If you find a tick on the inner ear, get help before removing it. Most pets will not sit still while a tick is removed from the ear.
Removing Ticks
If you do find the tick, you will need to remove it. If you are not comfortable removing the tick yourself, call your neighbor or your veterinarian. Your veterinarian can safely remove the tick, and at the same time, show you how it is done. If you wish to remove it yourself, you will need to gather some supplies.
To remove the tick:
- With the cotton swab or ball, apply rubbing alcohol to the tick and your pet’s skin where it is attached.
- Using the tweezers, grasp the tick as close to your pet’s skin as possible.
- With slow and steady pressure, pull the tick straight out of the skin. Be very careful not to twist, pop, or crush the tick, as doing so can cause infection.
- Place the tick into the jar, fill with rubbing alcohol and seal the jar.
- Clean your pet’s skin with rubbing alcohol and carefully check to make sure no parts of the tick were left in the skin.
If you are not able to drown the tick in alcohol, burn it. No other method is effective for killing a tick – not even flushing it down the toilet!
With the high number of ticks in the Billings area, checking for ticks should be a part of your daily pet care routine. If you find a tick on your pet, remove it and watch carefully for symptoms of tick-borne illness. If your pet acts unusual after a tick bite, or feels ill, call us right away.
