Dog Tick Removal

Dog Tick

Most previous dog owners have encountered a tick and practiced dog tick removal. Most probably was it a dog tick since it is a very common kind of tick. One should not make the mistake thinking that dog ticks only feed on blood from dogs, it sees all mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians as possible hosts and that includes humans. The dog tick is an external parasitical arachnid, which means that although it is a bloodsucking parasite, it is related to spiders. The tick is number two after the mosquito when it comes to spreading diseases.

Therefore is dog tick removal a great skill to acquire. It is a common misconception that the ticks can jump onto its host, which is not true as ticks are incapable of jumping. Instead they hang out on branches and in high growing grass, waiting for a suitable host to pass by. The dog tick will then grab onto its host when brushing the branches or grass to the side. Once bitten the dog tick is pretty much attached to the skin and might be hard to get rid of, therefore will this text hopefully teach you something when it comes to dog tick removal.

Dog tick removal � Anchor mouth

As previously mentioned the dog tick is very dangerous due to the fact that it is a carrier of many diseases, an obvious reason for dog tick removal. The bite itself though is not dangerous at all but it has a special feature that makes it possible for the dog tick to stay attached to its host for as long as it likes. Therefore learning dog tick removal is extremely important, and part of it is learning the dog ticks anatomy. The mouth of the tick is very similar to a harpoon which it plunges into the skin of its host. This does not hurt though due to the fact that the tick spit a mild painkiller as it does this. The mouth then works as an anchor securing it in place from secure dog tick removal, if you don�t have the tools and know-how that is.

Dog tick removal � How to

For the absolute safest dog tick removal you should get a blunt pair of tweezers or forceps. The trick is to grab the tick as close to the skin as possible. Grabbing it to far up might injure the dog tick and you will not want to do that. Once you have a firm grip of the dog ticks head, pull gently but firmly straight out. Do not twist the tick or anything, doing that will just make the dog tick removal much more difficult.

Dog tick removal � How not to

Using sharp forceps is a poor way of conducting dog tick removal. It is also a bad idea to try to crush, puncture, or squeeze the body of the tick. It will throw up long before it is dead. Some think that applying substances such as oil, gasoline or nail polisher is a good way to will the tick prior to the dog tick removal, well it isn�t because a tick does not have the same need for air as you do. Some even think burning it with hot matches while they are still attached to the skin is the way for dog tick removal but that is just stupid as you will end up burning yourself more than the tick. Now why are all of these dog tick removal ways bad? Because they all will get the tick to throw up and that is the least you want it to do as that is an almost certain way to infect the host with some disease. Although some are less aggressive and dangerous than others, it is not something you want to bet on.

Dog Tick - A deer tick which bites dogs