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A pair of fine-tipped tweezers or special tick removal instruments will remove an attached tick. These special devices allow you to remove the tick

without squeezing the tick body. This is important as you do not want to crush the tick and force harmful bacteria to leave the tick and enter your pet's bloodstream.

Grab the tick by the head or mouth parts right where they enter the skin. Do not grasp the tick by the body.

Gently pull firmly and steadily directly outward. Do not twist the tick as you are pulling.

Using methods such as applying petroleum jelly, a hot match, or alcohol will NOT cause the tick to back out. In fact, these irritants may cause the tick

to deposit more disease-carrying saliva in the wound.

After removing the tick, put it in a jar of alcohol to kill it. Ticks are NOT killed by flushing them down the toilet.

Clean the bite wound with a disinfectant. If you want to, apply a small amount of antibiotic ointment..

Wash your hands thoroughly.

It is suggested that you do not use your fingers to remove or dispose of the tick. You should not be contact with a potentially disease-carrying tick. Do

NOT squash the tick with your fingers. The contents of the tick can transmit disease.

You may notice a welt and skin reaction once the embedded tick is manually removed. A little hydrocortisone spray will help alleviate the irritation,

but it may take a week or more for healing to take place. In some cases, the tick bite may permanently scar leaving a hairless area. This skin irritation is due to a reaction to tick saliva. Do not be worried about the tick head staying in; it rarely happens.

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