Ticks. How To Remove And Prevent Infestation.

This year is one of the worst I have ever seen for ticks. These parasites can cause anemia, tick paralysis, or a very serious disease called Lyme disease. I had my dog, Chance, vaccinated for Lyme when he went for his annual shots in May. You have to request this, as it is not part of the annual shot regime. If you live near woods, or like me, take your dog to wetlands, check your dog from head to tail for ticks. Ticks like the ears, armpits and under the neck. I use the between the shoulder flea/tick/chewing lice treatment, Frontline Plus. This particular treatment will kill the ticks that carry Lyme disease. There are 4 types of ticks: Deer, Brown, American, and Lone Star.

The correct way to remove a tick is to grasp it with a pair of tweezers or hemostats and firmly, but gently, pull it straight out. Don't worry if the whole tick doesn't disengage. It will not grow back, and rarely the area will become infected. I use a diluted solution of alcohol and dab it on the spot where I removed the tick.


To kill the tick, the best method is to burn it with a match or lighter....but only after you remove it from the dog. I know that sounds really silly, but I read where some silly person tried to burn the tick while it was still attached. Needless to say, the dog was burned. You can also use a commercial dog dip to combat numerous ticks and to guard temporarily against re-infestation. If you do not like using a toxic dip, there are organic dips available, but they do not have the residual power of the dips containing toxins.********Read the directions on the dip carefully before using.********

Tick collars work only on the areas around the head and neck, so don't neglect the possibility of infestation re-occurring. But, if you use the between the shoulder applications, don't use a flea collar. And, do not, and I repeat, do not use a flea/tick shampoo before or after applying the liquid application. This will be toxic to your dog and could cause serious problems or kill them. The same goes for cats, too.