There is a tick on my dog near the mussel area. Should I take it to the vet or can I pull it out? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Female | 1 year and 2 months old | 47 lbs

Great question! If you feel comfortable removing it yourself, I can give you instructions on how to do it, but if you want a vet to remove it, I would take Gia into the vet now to have it done. That's because it's very important to remove a tick as soon as possible to lessen the risk of disease transmission. You will need tweezers (with pointy ends), gloves, rubbing alcohol, and a jar or contained with a lid. It's important you wear gloves to remove this tick to prevent getting any diseases yourself from the tick. Be sure to keep Gia calm. Take the tweezers and grab ahold of the tick as close as possible to Gia's skin, but don't pinch her skin. Pull the tick out with using a straight motion, do not twist or jerk the tick because you don't want to leave any parts of the mouth behind. Also make sure not to crush or squeeze the tick, you don't want fluids to splash around as those also contain infectious material. After you pull the tick out, examine Gia's skin to make sure there aren't any parts of the mouth left behind. If there are, you will need to take her into a vet right away. Kill the tick by placing it in a container filled with rubbing alcohol, and keep the tick in case Gia starts showing signs of a tick borne disease for the vet to examine later. Signs include lethargy, lameness, reluctance to move, joint pain, fever, swelling of the joints, anorexia, and swollen lymph nodes. It can take up to two to five months for symptoms to appear. You can use antiseptic wipes to clean the area where the tick bit Gia if you got all the mouthparts out. Monitor her for signs of tick borne illness over the next weeks, and bring Gia into the vet right away if you see any.

My dog has a tick. Can I remove it myself or should I see a vet?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Female | 1 year and 2 months old | 47 lbs

There is a tick on my dog near the mussel area. Should I take it to the vet or can I pull it out?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Sarah Smith, Bsc (Hons) BVM&S MRCVS 106

Veterinarian

Published on January 10th, 2017

Yes you should be able to remove it at home, just ensure that you remove it completely as twisting can potentially cause the mouth parts to break off and remain in the skin, if you have any doubts your veterinary clinic should be able to assist you. I would also recommend that you speak to your veterinary clinic regarding a tick prevention regime to prevent further ticks in the future and to discuss possible diseases in your area that could be contracted and if your pet maybe at risk.

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My dog has a tick. Can I remove it myself or should I see a vet?

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