Finding a tick on your pet may come as an unpleasant surprise, but do not fear! Ticks are more often than not easy to remove and, if caught early enough, are unlikely to cause any problems. If you find a tick-like lump on your pet, you should first closely inspect it to ensure that, it is in fact, a tick. Sometimes, we might mistake a scab, small wart or even some swelling as the tiny creature. You should then use an appropriate tool and technique to remove it. If you are unable to remove the tick, then it may be worth a quick trip to your local veterinarian to get their help to remove it.
What is a tick and where are they found?
A tick is a type of mite that has a flat body, eight legs and ranges from 3-5mm in length, although can be larger after becoming engorged with a blood meal. They use a number of bird or mammal hosts as a source of food and shelter, before dropping back off into the environment and growing or producing eggs. The tick life cycle starts with eggs, which hatch into larvae, grow into nymphs and then to adults. At each of these different life cycle stages, the tick will target and feed on a different host. Tick populations are entirely dependent on having suitable hosts, so they are only found in areas where there are plenty of options for each stage (including larger animals such as deer and cows). Because of this, ticks usually live in and around woodland and forests, primarily where the forest meets grassland or shrubland, using the long grass and low-lying shrubs to latch onto passers-by. Ticks grow and reproduce best in warm and humid conditions, so are most commonly found in spring, summer, and autumn.
What problems do ticks cause?
When your animal picks up a tick, usually from running around in areas where there are ticks ready and waiting to find a host, the tick will move through the fur and attach into the skin where it starts to feed. Ticks are able to cause a number of issues, including local inflammation and infection where they have bitten the animal, but also transferring diseases – these are known as tick-borne diseases. The disease is transferred by the disease-causing organism moving from within the tick into the animal’s tissues, however this does not happen instantly, with some studies suggesting that it can take up to 24-48 hours before you are at risk of the disease passing over. In the UK, the main type of disease transferred by ticks to animals is Lyme disease. In Europe and North America there are other types of disease such as Q-fever and tick-borne encephalitis which can be life threatening in people as well as animals. When removing a tick, if the head is not completely removed with the body, then there is also risk of this leading to further infection. In addition to this, it is important to avoid squeezing the body of the tick when removing it as this can lead to an increased risk of infections being passed on.
How will I know if my pet has a tick?
Ticks can be tricky to spot without close inspection of our pets. They are very small and fur coats can conceal them even further. The best way to find them is to routinely inspect your pet’s coat, especially if they have enjoyed a long woodland walk or a foray through some bushes. The best time to do this is often when your pet is relaxed, sleeping, or enjoying a cuddle, as they will not be moving so much and will allow you to have a closer inspection of their coat. Whilst ticks can be found anywhere on our furry friend’s body, the areas to check include the head and muzzle for ticks that might’ve been acquired when sniffing and nosing through the undergrowth. Another point of interest is the main trunk of their body, from when they have been running through the undergrowth or rolling in it. An example of an uncommon place to find a tick would be the legs, but it does sometimes happen! If you do not find your pet’s tick immediately it is not the end of the world. Over time, when the tick feeds on blood it’s body will swell, it will then become more apparent in your pet’s coat, making it easier to find and remove. It is rare to notice ‘clinical signs or symptoms’ in alerting you to a tick’s presence, however it would be worthwhile investigating any areas that your pet seems to be sore.
How should I remove a tick?
There are two main methods of removing a tick. The most straightforward and effective method for removal is to use a ‘tick removal tool’ (a small plastic or metal fork) this can be used to twist the tick, cause it to release its bite and detach from the body. This twisting method is much less likely to leave the tick’s head in the skin (which can unfortunately stick around with improper removal) as well as being less likely to squeeze the tick and dispense/introduce diseases into the body.
When using a tick removal tool, you should put the fork prongs on either side of the tick’s head, which is the point of attachment, before twisting the tick in one direction until it lets go. When the tick lets go, you should exterminate it, either by putting it in rubbing alcohol or crushing it. Be careful that you don’t get any content on your hands and dispose of the tick cleanly. As a veterinarian, this is my preferred method, it almost always removes the tick’s head and mouthparts from the skin.
The alternative method involves using a pair of tweezers. If you choose this method, you should very carefully grasp the tick around the head and mouthparts, making sure you are as close to the skin as possible to ensure the highest likelihood of complete tick removal. Once you have a good grip, you should pull directly away from the skin in one movement. Whilst doing this, you should also make sure that you do not squeeze the main body of the tick, as mentioned above, this can introduce disease into the body. This method also works, but there is an increased chance that the mouthparts will remain attached to your pet.
Once you have removed the tick (using either method) you should continue by closely inspecting the area again. You will be looking to ensure that no parts of the tick remain in the skin. Then, use warm soapy water to cleanse the tick site. If you find one tick, it is best to further inspect the rest of your animal, as you may find more than one has attached. It is sensible to continue monitoring the area for a few days after removal to check for further swelling, discharge, or other signs of a problem.
What should I do if the head was left in?
If you have removed most of the tick but left the mouthparts or the head in, then you should consult your local veterinarian. They may try and remove the remaining pieces, although this may not be possible depending on how small they are. They can also check your animal for other ticks and provide any further treatments necessary.
Can I prevent my animal from getting ticks?
There are products licensed for both dogs and cats which treat for ticks, including solutions with pipettes to be applied to the back of their necks, tablets, and also collars that contain the medication that kills the ticks. However, none of these prevents ticks from biting, they just kill the tick once it has already bitten. Often this will lead to the tick attaching to your pet, taking on the anti-parasite medication and then dying – this will either lead to them detaching or shriveling up but remaining attached.
What happens if I get a tick?
If you find that you have a tick as well, then you should remove it using one of the methods described above. Make sure you follow the same precautions and monitor the bite area for any signs of illness or rash. If you are in a country where diseases, like tick-borne encephalitis, are common then I would strongly suggest seeking medical advice. To prevent acquiring a tick, you should wear clothing that will prohibit them from getting to your skin when walking in high-risk areas. You can also use insect repellents to make this more effective.
