Found a Tick on Your Dog? Here's Exactly What to Do

If you find a tick on your dog, remove it as quickly as possible using tick tweezers or a tick removal hook — the sooner it comes out, the lower the risk of disease transmission. Then note the date and monitor your dog for signs of illness over the following weeks — and keep that date on record, because Lyme disease can take months to show. Most tick bites cause no lasting harm, but some ticks carry serious diseases, so knowing what to watch for matters.

Step-by-Step Removal

• 1️⃣Get the right toolUse tick-removal tweezers or a tick hook (available cheaply at any pet shop or pharmacy). Do not use your fingers alone, nail polish, petroleum jelly or heat — these increase the risk of the tick regurgitating into the bite.
• 2️⃣Grasp as close to the skin as possiblePosition the tool right at skin level, as close to the tick’s head as you can get. You want to grip the head, not the body.
• 3️⃣Pull steadily — no jerking or squeezingWith tweezers, apply gentle, steady upward pressure and do not twist or jerk. A tick hook works differently: slide it under the tick and turn it gently, as the instructions on the pack describe. Either way, the tick should release cleanly after a few seconds.
• 4️⃣Check the bite siteOnce removed, check that the tick came out whole. A small red spot is normal. If part of the head remains in the skin, it will usually work its way out on its own, but contact your vet if you’re concerned or if the area becomes inflamed.
• 5️⃣Dispose of the tick safelyDrop it in a sealed bag, submerge it in rubbing alcohol, or flush it away. Do not crush it between your fingers — ticks can carry pathogens harmful to humans too.
• 6️⃣Note the date and locationWrite down when and where you removed it and which part of your dog’s body it was on. This information is useful if symptoms appear later.

What to Watch For After Removal

Keep a close eye on your dog over the following weeks. Signs of most tick-borne diseases appear within about one to three weeks, but Lyme disease often doesn’t show until two to five months after the bite. Contact your vet if you notice:

• 🌡️Fever or lethargyUnusual tiredness or a noticeably warm body can be an early sign of a tick-borne illness like Lyme disease or anaplasmosis.
• 🦵Limping or joint swellingLyme disease in dogs often appears as shifting-leg lameness — one leg, then another, without an obvious injury. Don’t ignore this after a known tick bite.
• 😶Loss of appetiteA dog going off their food after a tick bite is worth a call to the vet, especially combined with other symptoms.
• 🔴A bite site that doesn’t settleA small red bump for a few days is normal. Don’t wait for the bull’s-eye rash that people get with Lyme disease — dogs don’t develop it. Do contact your vet if the area stays red, swells or feels hot.

Prevention: Your Best Option

• 💊Use regular tick preventionSpot-on treatments, tick collars or oral preventatives significantly reduce the number of ticks that attach and the transmission risk of those that do. Ask your vet which is best for your dog and your local tick risk.
• 🔍Check your dog after every walk in tick habitatPay particular attention to the head, neck, ears, groin, armpits and between the toes — ticks prefer warm, hidden spots. The earlier you find one, the better.

Log tick finds and preventative treatments in the Yuki app — it lets you record the date, location on your dog’s body and any symptoms, and set reminders for your next monthly prevention dose so it never slips.

The Bottom Line

Remove the tick quickly and correctly, note the date, and watch for symptoms over the following weeks and months. Prevention — regular parasite treatment and post-walk checks — remains the best strategy. If in any doubt after a bite, call your vet rather than waiting to see what happens. Related reading: keeping track of your dog’s vaccinations and checking your dog’s weight at home.