What Should I do About a Tick on my Dog?
Hello,
I think I found a tick between Stuart’s toes. It could be that just the head is left, because I don’t see any legs. Should I try to remove it?
Heather
San Diego, CA
If you are not completely certain that what you are seeing is a tick, then I would not recommend that you attempt to remove it.
Ticks are blood sucking parasites that can carry a number of diseases. Lyme disease is the most famous, and dogs are susceptible to it. Ticks also spread frightening diseases and syndromes with scary names such as ehrlichiosis, tularemia, Q-fever, tick paralysis, and rocky mountain spotted fever.
Fortunately, most dogs that suffer from tick infestation do not contract a serious disease. Skin infection at the site of attachment is the most common complication that I see.
A vet should definitely take a look at Stuart’s foot. If, in fact, a tick is attached then it should be removed. But you should be aware that skin tags, benign tumors, moles and warts sometimes look like ticks. Your best bet is to have a professional assess the situation.
Photo: André Karwath. Photo license: CC
You have questions. 
I saw a great tip for tick removal on Dr. Nancy Kay’s website – http://www.speakingforspot.com/speakingforspotblog.html
I had my first occasion to use it last weekend and it worked much better than other ways I have tried.
But we always go in to the vet if there is any question about what we are looking at.
Holly
I live in the mountains of Oregon and have alot of oak and madron trees in my area along with alot of deer and ticks. We keep a close watch on our dogs and are careful about walking through the brush and make sure we don’t pick up any ourselves. I use a treatment on the dog that you put on between the shoulder blades and it works great. Frontline and there is another brand out there.
I usually get hold of the tick and twist it out. Got to be careful not to leave the head in the dog. Also vaseline on the bloated stomach will cause it to fall off. Of course, it will fall off on it’s own when it is full only to reatach when when hungry again. These are very disgusting little parasites and carry disease.
We live in South Florida and the ticks seem to be MURDER this year. It’s really beginning to bother me because not only do we have extremely warm weather and high humidity, but also plenty of brush for the little buggars to hide in. I’ve found a bunch on my dogs already. I hate that! I especially don’t like it when I give them their treatment and it doesn’t seem to help. I’ve only been giving them topical, but I have been hearing plenty of people down here saying that I should give them both oral and topical. Summertime down here is a breeding ground for ticks, ticks, and more ticks.
so one should go to the vet every time one finds a tick on their dog?
this blog entry needs a re-write, the title is:
‘what should i do about a tick on my dog?’
not
‘moles and skin tags can be mistaken for a tick’.
how about some tips to removing ticks?
Holly, that “tick spinning” trick sounds nifty!
I used to do a fair bit of hiking, and I was taught (cough) many years ago that heating the head of a needle in a flame, then pressing the hot metal against the backside of the tick would cause the vermin to release itself in reaction to the danger.
Fortunately, I’ve never had the opportunity to try it, and I think your new found method sounds much safer! ;-)
My Grandparents always used Camphophenic (sp) on ticks for us and the dogs. Just a little dab with a Q-Tip and the little b*#$!%& falls right off!
Oh! You mean this stuff?
Heh. Who’da thunk? LOL
Our vet has new tick collars that are wonderful! They stay put on the dog and don’t stretch out of place or come out of the buckle. Our three dogs of various breeds and sizes wear them and they haven’t bothered the dogs at all and there haven’t been any ticks on them in the 2 months since I bought them. They are $15. Ask your vet.
thanks from posters for the tips!
@ ASHLEY – I completely agree. I’m also in South Florida and have never had such a problem with ticks. I’m at my wits end. Have ‘bombed/fumigated’ four times and sprayed the yard & bathed Golden Retriever beyond regularly. She’s on Advantix AND Preventix tick collar. Yesterday bombed again and bathed her again – and found more ticks this morning in the house!!! AAAAHHHH!!! Never, ever, ever had this problem in the past. Just hired a professional lawn service. Friends have same problem. They hired an indoor exterminator and it did nothing. Any suggestions for de-plagueing a house?!
My westies used to get so sick form the flea and tick stuff, I found some all natural Flea and Tick products called No more Fleas and No More Ticks by EARTH ANIMAL. All natural, works like crazy and you drop it in the food. If the ticks decide to hitch a ride on the dogs, they dont attach much. If they do….they DIE immediately. It is also CHEAPER than frontline etc. I am of a mind that frontline makes dogs sick..and should not be around people either. But, thats just us. We also feed our dogs only organic home cooked meals. They are thriving even at 10 years and 9 years old…like puppies. We also give them vitamins called Garden of Life as they are made from all organic food sources. Got rid of their skin stuff and they are happy campers. This is what has worked for US…just thought Id share with others. Hugs and snuggles to all our furry friends and their people. Aeva