Removing a tick from a dog: the right method, no products
Published by Planète Pets · managing editor: Clément Lacaille · reference guide rewritten with every source checked
Remove the tick as soon as you see it: grasp it close to the skin with a tick remover or fine-tipped tweezers, then pull it out with steady pressure, without squeezing it. Do not put anything on it first (no alcohol, oil, ether or flame): these methods do not make the tick let go. Do not wait either: the often-quoted “24 hours without risk” rule is wrong in dogs, since one study showed canine babesiosis being transmitted in under 8 hours. Afterwards, disinfect and keep an eye on your dog; only a vet can tell whether a disease has been passed on.
Contents · 8 sections
Do you really need to hurry?
Yes. A study by Varloud, Liebenberg and Fourie, published in 2018 in Parasites & Vectors, tested transmission of Babesia canis, the parasite behind canine babesiosis, by the tick Dermacentor reticulatus. The male ticks had already started feeding on another animal before being placed on the dogs, a situation that can occur in nature when a tick drops off and reattaches. Result: all 6 dogs exposed for 24 hours were infected, and 3 of 6 dogs exposed for only 8 hours were infected too. Three of the infected dogs had a temperature above 39.4 °C.
The authors conclude that no minimum transmission time can be set for every natural situation, and recommend prevention that stops ticks attaching or repels them. For Lyme disease, a review by Cook published at the end of 2014 in the International Journal of General Medicine reaches the same caution: in animal models, transmission can occur in under 16 hours, and the minimum attachment time has never been established.
| Disease (agent) | Published finding | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Canine babesiosis (Babesia canis) | 6 of 6 dogs infected after 24 h of attachment | Varloud et al., 2018 |
| Canine babesiosis (Babesia canis) | 3 of 6 dogs infected after 8 h of attachment (ticks already fed elsewhere) | Varloud et al., 2018 |
| Lyme disease (Borrelia) | Transmission possible in under 16 h in animal models | Cook, 2014 |
| Lyme disease (Borrelia) | Minimum attachment time never established | Cook, 2014 |
In practice: check your dog after every walk in woodland, meadows or long grass, and remove any tick straight away rather than the next day.
Which method works?
The folk remedies were tested head to head by Needham, in a study published in 1985 in Pediatrics. It tested five common methods, recommended for people and pets alike, on ticks attached for 12 to 15 hours or for 3 to 4 days.
| Method | Result |
|---|---|
| Petroleum jelly | Tick does not detach |
| Nail polish | Tick does not detach |
| 70% isopropyl alcohol | Tick does not detach |
| Hot match | Tick does not detach |
| Forceps (or protected fingers) | 29 ticks removed without leaving mouthparts or “cement” in the skin |
| Forceps on another tick species: twisting, steady pull, jerking, pulling parallel to the skin | No mouthparts broke off (22 ticks), but the attachment cement stayed in the skin |
The author recommends grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible and pulling straight up with steady, even pressure. The US CDC guidance agrees for tweezers: pull steadily, without twisting or jerking, and never use petroleum jelly, heat or nail polish, which may agitate the tick and push infected fluid into the skin.
Step by step
- Calm and steady your dog; part the hair well so you can see the tick’s head.
- With fine-tipped tweezers: grasp the tick right at the skin, without squeezing its body, and pull straight up with steady pressure.
- With a tick hook: slide it under the tick at skin level and follow the maker’s instructions (some hooks are designed for a slow twist). The 1985 study did not find that twisting broke the mouthparts.
- Disinfect the area and wash your hands.
- Note the date and where the bite was, so you can tell the vet if signs appear.
If a small piece stays in the skin, do not dig: remove it only if it comes out easily. It is usually shed as the skin heals. Spreading redness, swelling or an oozing wound call for a vet’s opinion.
When should you see a vet?
Promptly if, in the days or weeks after a bite, your dog shows fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, dark urine or lameness. Babesiosis can progress quickly; only a vet can make the diagnosis and decide on treatment. Do not give any medication on your own initiative.
How can you reduce the risk upstream?
The authors of the 2018 study recommend prevention that stops ticks attaching or repels them. The different forms (spot-ons, collars, tablets) are compared in our guide to flea and tick treatments for dogs; the choice is made with your vet according to region, lifestyle and your dog’s health. After a walk, run your hand over the ears, neck, armpits, groin and between the toes: these are also where grass awns lodge. Brushing suited to the coat helps you spot ticks: see our guide to choosing a brush by coat type.
What we checked
- All three studies were found through Crossref and PubMed; each DOI resolves to the right title, authors and year.
- We re-read the abstracts; every figure in both tables comes from them.
- We consulted the CDC tick-removal page on 22/09/2026 (status 200) and checked its advice.
- We corrected the previous version, which presented removal within 24 hours as highly protective and advised “twist without pulling” whatever the tool.
- We are not vets and did not test any tools: this guide summarises studies and an official source.
Frequently asked questions
Should you put alcohol or ether on the tick before removing it?
No. In the 1985 study, alcohol, petroleum jelly, nail polish and a hot match did not make a single tick let go. The CDC advises against these products, which may push infected fluid into the skin. Remove the tick mechanically, straight away.
The tick’s head stayed in the skin — is that serious?
Usually not. Remove the piece with tweezers if it is easy, otherwise let the skin shed it as it heals. See a vet if the area swells, gets redder or oozes.
Do you need to see a vet after every tick bite?
Not necessarily. Watch your dog over the following weeks and see a vet if there is fever, lethargy, dark urine or lameness.
Is there a vaccine for dogs?
Vaccines exist against some tick-borne diseases. Whether they are worthwhile depends on your region and your dog’s lifestyle: discuss it with your vet. They do not replace parasite prevention or checking after walks. Find more advice in our dog care and grooming section.
Sources
- Needham, G. R. (1985). Evaluation of five popular methods for tick removal. Pediatrics, 75(6), 997-1002. doi:10.1542/peds.75.6.997
- Varloud, M., Liebenberg, J., & Fourie, J. (2018). Early Babesia canis transmission in dogs within 24 h and 8 h of infestation with infected pre-activated male Dermacentor reticulatus ticks. Parasites & Vectors, 11(1), 41. doi:10.1186/s13071-018-2637-7
- Cook, M. J. (2014). Lyme borreliosis: a review of data on transmission time after tick attachment. International Journal of General Medicine, 8, 1-8. doi:10.2147/ijgm.s73791
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This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Dogs universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.