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  • Dogs and Ticks: How to Spot & Remove

    Close up of deer tick on a hand.

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    Learn lifesaving skills in just 35 minutes! Sign up for our online Cat and Dog First Aid Online course today.

    Emergency Steps (If You Find a Tick)

    1

    Put on non latex, powder free gloves.

    2

    Part the fur around the tick.

    3

    Use blunt end tweezers, or tweezers made for tick removal, gently grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.

    4

    Using a slow, steady motion, pull the tick out.

    5

    You should identify what tick it was and contact your veterinarian if you have questions.

    • After you pull the tick off, you can put it in a piece of tape or a sealed container and dispose of it, or flush it down the toilet. You can also put it in alcohol.
    6

    Monitor the area for signs of redness, swelling, pain, or discharge.

    Dog Ticks FAQs

    What do ticks that carry Lyme disease look like?

    Deer ticks, which can carry Lyme disease, are the smallest, ranging from 1 to 10mm, depending on the stage. It is either all black or has a black area near its head.

    Do all ticks carry diseases?

    There are many other types of ticks that can carry diseases transmissible to animals and dogs. These ticks are larger than deer ticks and mostly brown.

    How do I prevent my dog from getting tick bite transmitted diseases?

    It’s imperative to use flea and tick prevention. Please contact your local veterinarian.

    Download the FREE Red Cross Pet First Aid App

    Pet First Aid App. The free Pet First Aid App provides guidance on your pet's health, what to do in emergencies and how to include your pets in your preparedness plans.

    The American Red Cross Pet First Aid app puts veterinary advice for everyday emergencies in the palm of your hand. With videos, interactive quizzes, and simple step-by-step advice it’s never been easier to know pet first aid. Get the app and be prepared to act when called upon. iOS App, Google Play, or text "GETPET" to 90999.

    Help Save Pet Lives with an American Red Cross Pet First Aid Class

    Be prepared for any pet emergency! Sign up for our 35-minute Cat and Dog First Aid Online course. Learn the basics in caring for cats and dogs through a variety of topics – from understanding and checking your pet's vital signs, to preventative care for cats and dogs, to caring for the most critical emergency situations - including breathing and cardiac emergencies, wounds, bleeding, and seizures.

    Our pet first aid online course can be good for: Pet Owners, Pet Sitters, Dog Walkers, and Dog Trainers, Animal Shelter Staff & Volunteers, Groomers, Pet Retail Employees, Other Pet Care Providers, and more!

    Register Now!

    You love your pets and want to keep them happy - heart. Our Cat and Dog First Aid Online Training can help. Learn how to provide a healthy lifestyle and deliver first aid to your pet. Register today! American Red Cross

    Information Provided Deborah C. Mandell, BS, VMD

    Dr. Debbie Mandell

    Pet First Aid information provided by Dr. Debbie Mandell, Professor of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine at the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania; American Red Cross National Pet Care Advisor for the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council. Visit redcross.org/take-a-class/scientific-advisory-council to see how we work, members, sub councils, scientific reviews, and recent research.

    About Red Cross Training Services

    More than 4.6M people turn to us, the trusted training provider for First Aid, CPR, BLS and more, every year to gain lifesaving skills. Trust us to deliver unmatched lifesaving training that will provide you the confidence and skills to act when moments matter. Training Services is a division of the American Red Cross with the mission to spread knowledge and educate as many members of the national community in lifesaving procedures. Our services include training courses for CPR and AED, First Aid, BLS (Basic Life Support), Babysitting, Caregiving, Lifeguarding Water Safety, and more.