Puppies and tick treatment: How to remove ticks from a puppy

While most tick bites are harmless, they can potentially transmit tick-borne diseases as well as lead to anemia from blood loss. Most puppy flea and tick control products cannot be given to puppies under eight weeks of age, so timely and safe tick removal is one strategy for preventing these complications. If you are a pet parent, read on to learn:

• What ticks look and feel like on a puppy
• How to safely remove attached ticks from a puppy
• Why ticks can be dangerous
• When you should see a vet for ticks on your puppy

While most ticks do not carry disease, some can carry dangerous illnesses such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which can cause symptoms such as lethargy, swollen lymph nodes, and loss of appetite. Because an infected tick must be attached for at least a few hours before it can transmit a disease, removing and disposing of ticks in a safe and timely manner is crucial to preventing disease. Ticks can also attach to people, and brown dog ticks can infest homes if they are not disposed of properly.

Ticks are small arachnids with flat, oval bodies. As ticks feed, their engorged bodies swell, making them easier to see because they are larger and rounder. Ticks attach to puppies by embedding their mouthparts into the surface of the skin. When attached, ticks look and feel like small dark bumps on the skin’s surface. Unlike a nipple or most moles, the body of an attached tick can be flipped back and forth since only the mouth parts are attached. Tick species can vary in size and color. Small ticks that are not engorged may be difficult to see, especially in dogs with dark skin or fur. However, all ticks attach to the surface of the skin and can be felt during tick checks.

How to check a puppy for ticks

To check a puppy for ticks, run your fingers over their body and through the fur to feel for abnormal bumps. If a bump is felt, move the fur to see the skin underneath. Attached ticks feel like raised bumps on the skin. Tick bites without an attached tick may feel like scabby sores.

It’s important to do regular tick checks on a puppy after they play outdoors, especially near tall grasses, brush, wooded areas, or areas with frequent wildlife. Ticks hide in long grass and brush, waiting to grab onto a passing host. Common wildlife, such as deer, carry ticks that drop off once they’re full and go through metamorphosis before waiting for their next host to come by.

Use a pair of clean tweezers or a tick removal tool to firmly grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Pull straight outward until the skin tents, and wait for the tick to release. Be careful not to crush the tick when removing it, as this increases the risk of tick-borne disease transmission. Do not use other methods of removal, such as a lit match, petroleum jelly, nail polish remover, or rubbing alcohol, as these can cause more damage to your dog. Dispose of the tick by wrapping it tightly with tape, dropping it into rubbing alcohol, or flushing it down the toilet. It is important to safely dispose of the tick to prevent it from reattaching to your puppy or people in the household. In addition, brown dog ticks can live and breed inside homes, leading to a home tick infestation.

Clean the bite area with warm, soapy water and check for other attached ticks. It is a myth that a tick’s head can be left behind in the bite wound. Ticks do not burrow their heads but simply insert their mouthparts to the surface of the skin. A tick bite often has a dark spot in the center where a tick was attached that can be mistaken for a head. Do not dig around a bite wound, even if a tick breaks apart upon removal. This isn’t necessary and increases the risk for infection. A puppy’s body will naturally push out any parts of the tick that may remain.

Are puppy flea and tick control products safe?

Always read and follow the label directions of a tick product closely before giving it to any pet, including puppies. A product labeled for adult dogs may not be safe for puppies or other animals in the household. Most tick preventatives are not safe for puppies younger than eight weeks of age, so it’s important to check the label for age restrictions. Always talk to a veterinarian about safe tick treatment and prevention products for puppies before purchasing any. Flea and tick control products given too young or in the wrong dose can be toxic. This includes all oral, collar, and topical products.

Most tick bites are harmless, but some can transmit dangerous infectious diseases to puppies, such as:

• Lyme disease
• Ehrlichiosis
• Anaplasmosis
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever
• Babesiosis
• Cat scratch fever (bartonellosis)

The prevalence of tick-borne illnesses varies by region, so a puppy’s risk varies depending on where you live and what species of ticks are in the local environment. Different types of ticks live in different regions of North America and carry different diseases. Common ticks in North America include:

• Brown dog tick
• American dog tick (wood tick)
• Lone star tick
• Black-legged tick (deer tick)

The majority of puppies are fine if ticks are removed promptly and safely. Most tick bites are harmless because most ticks aren’t carrying a disease. Even if an infected tick bites a puppy, tick-borne illnesses are not transmitted immediately upon attaching to a host. Depending on the disease, a tick must feed for a few hours to a few days before the disease can spread. Checking exposed puppies regularly for ticks and removing the ticks safely helps prevent the spread of disease. Even if a dog or puppy gets infected with a tick-borne disease, they often don’t develop symptoms right away. The incubation period for tick-borne illnesses is multiple days to months after a tick bite, so there’s no real need to monitor closely for symptoms immediately after removing a tick.

Heavy tick infestations can be dangerous for puppies even if the ticks aren’t carrying an infectious disease. Ticks feed on blood, and the presence of many ticks can result in significant blood loss in small puppies, leading to life-threatening anemia. Open sores from bites may also get infected. If a puppy has more than a few ticks, talk to a veterinarian for advice on whether additional medical care is needed.

Most puppies do not need veterinary attention after a tick bite if the tick is removed successfully. Even when a tick is removed correctly and there is no infection, a scabby, crusty, or inflamed sore is often left behind that can take a couple of weeks to heal. Keep the sore clean and monitor for signs of infection or concerning symptoms.

Seek veterinary care if:

• Your puppy shows signs of illness
• The bite wound is not healing
• The bite appears infected
• Your puppy has more than a few ticks

It’s important to seek veterinary care any time a puppy shows signs of illness, whether a tick bit them or not. Depending on the disease, signs of tick-borne illnesses include:

• Fatigue or lethargy
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Loss of appetite
• Joint swelling, pain, or stiffness
• Vomiting

Signs of anemia in puppies include:

• Pale gums
• Lethargy
• Difficulty breathing or breathing rapidly
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting

There are many health issues that are more common than tick-borne diseases that share similar symptoms. Always talk to a veterinarian if you are worried about your puppy or if they are showing signs of illness.

“It’s important for pet parents to remember that the majority of tick bites are harmless,” explains Dr. Jo Myers, a veterinarian on Vetster. “Most ticks aren’t carrying disease-causing organisms, and most infections don’t lead to illness. It’s still important to promptly remove any ticks you find on your puppy just in case.” If you need help removing a tick from your puppy safely, an online veterinary professional is always available on Vetster to guide you through a virtual vet appointment.

Are ticks harmful to puppies?

The majority of ticks do not carry disease-causing organisms, but tick-borne illnesses can be transmitted to puppies if an infected tick is not removed promptly. In addition, heavy tick infestations can result in life-threatening anemia from blood loss. It is important to regularly check at-risk puppies for ticks and safely remove them to avoid illness.

How early can you treat a puppy for ticks?

Tick collars, oral medications, topical products, and other tick treatments may be dangerous for young puppies. Always read a product’s label and follow the instructions closely. Talk to a veterinarian about safe tick control products if your puppy is at risk for ticks.

What should I do if I find a tick on my puppy?

Remove the tick promptly with clean tweezers or a tick remover by grasping the tick at the skin’s surface and pulling straight outward, then waiting until the tick lets go. Do not use other methods of removal because they may do more harm than good. Also, do not worry about leaving the head behind, because it was never in the skin to begin with. Ticks attach only by inserting their mouthparts into the skin. Even when the tick is removed properly and the bite isn’t infected, tick bites look irritated and take a couple of weeks to heal.