If you've ever found a small, greyish lump on your dog that turns out to have legs, you've met a tick. They turn up a lot from spring through summer, especially after walks in long grass and woodland, and they always seem to prompt the same two questions: how do I get it off safely, and should I be worried? This guide answers both, the honest, practical way.
The most important thing to know up front is that how you remove a tick matters just as much as removing it. Do it wrong and you can leave the mouthparts behind or squeeze nasties into your dog. Done properly, it takes about a minute. I check for ticks on plenty of dogs that come through the salon here in York, so let me walk you through it.
What ticks are and where dogs pick them up
Ticks are small, spider-like parasites that attach to the skin and feed on blood. Before feeding they can be as small as a pinhead; once they've fed they swell up to the size of a small pea, which is usually when owners spot them. They're often mistaken for a skin tag or a wart until you look closely.
Dogs pick them up out in the environment, brushing past vegetation where ticks sit waiting. The usual hotspots are:
- Long grass and meadows
- Woodland and bracken
- Moorland and areas with lots of deer, sheep or other wildlife
Around York there's plenty of lovely countryside walking that fits this description, so checking your dog over afterwards is a good habit in tick season, and the same walks are where grass seeds catch in the coat too. Ticks tend to attach where the skin is thinner: the head, ears, neck, armpits, groin and between the toes.
How to safely remove a tick
This is the bit to get right. You'll want either a tick-removal tool (the little hook or twister, cheap from any pet shop or vet) or a pair of fine-tipped tweezers. Then:
- Get in close to the skin. Slide the tool or tweezers right down to where the tick's mouth meets your dog's skin. You want to grip the tick, not the body away from the skin.
- Steady, even pressure. With a tool, follow its instructions (most are a gentle twist-and-lift). With tweezers, pull straight up and out with slow, steady pressure. Let the tick release rather than yanking.
- Lift away cleanly. The whole tick, head and all, should come away.
- Clean the spot. Wipe the area with warm salty water and keep an eye on it over the next few days.
Just as important is what not to do:
- Don't squeeze or crush the body. That can force its stomach contents back into your dog, raising the infection risk.
- Don't twist wildly or yank. You'll snap it and leave the mouthparts embedded.
- Never burn it off or smother it in vaseline, alcohol or anything else. These old wives' methods make the tick regurgitate into the wound, which is exactly what you're trying to avoid.
The PDSA has a clear step-by-step (with video) on how to remove a tick from a dog if you'd like to see it demonstrated.
Vet note: If a small bit of mouthpart stays behind, or the site becomes red, swollen or sore over the following days, have your vet take a look. And if you're at all unsure about removing a tick yourself, your vet or a nurse will happily do it for you.
Lyme disease and why ticks matter
The reason we take ticks seriously is disease. Some UK ticks carry Lyme disease, a bacterial infection that can affect both dogs and people. It's not common, but it can make a dog genuinely unwell, and the risk rises the longer a tick stays attached, which is why prompt removal is the goal.
Contact your vet if, in the weeks after a tick bite, your dog shows any of:
- Lameness or shifting stiffness that comes and goes
- Lethargy or being off their food
- A high temperature or swollen joints
For more detail, PDSA's page on ticks on dogs is a reliable read. Worth remembering too: ticks can attach to people as well, so check yourself after the same walks.
Preventing ticks
You can't wrap your dog in cotton wool, but you can cut the risk right down:
- Use a vet-recommended preventative. Plenty of licensed products cover both ticks and fleas, as spot-ons, tablets or collars. Which one suits your dog depends on their age, weight, health and lifestyle, so ask your vet or pharmacist rather than grabbing something off a shelf. There are no one-size-fits-all doses, which is why professional advice matters.
- Check after every walk in tick country. Run your hands over the head, ears, neck, armpits, groin and feet. The sooner you find one, the sooner it's off.
- Keep the grooming up. On long or dense coats, mats and heavy feathering make it harder to spot a tick until it's well fed. A well-maintained coat makes those daily checks much quicker, and it's one of the quiet benefits of regular grooming.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove a tick from my dog safely?
Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool, grip the tick right at the skin, and pull straight up with steady pressure (or twist gently if using a tool) until it releases. Don't squeeze the body, twist harshly, or use heat or vaseline.
Should I be worried about my dog getting a tick?
A single tick, promptly removed, is usually nothing to panic about. The concern is disease like Lyme, and the risk grows the longer a tick feeds, so remove them quickly and watch for lameness, lethargy or a temperature in the following weeks.
What's the best tick prevention for dogs?
A vet-recommended preventative combined with regular checks after walks. The right product depends on your individual dog, so speak to your vet or pharmacist for a licensed option.
Where do dogs pick up ticks?
Mostly in long grass, woodland, bracken and moorland, especially areas with lots of wildlife like deer and sheep. Ticks are most active from spring through summer.
This isn't veterinary advice
We're professional dog groomers, not vets, so please treat this as friendly general guidance. If you're worried about your dog, or before acting on anything here, speak to your local vet, who can examine your dog and advise properly. In an emergency, contact your vet or nearest out-of-hours clinic.
Fluffs is a professional dog grooming salon in Wigginton, York, offering one-to-one grooming for dogs of every breed and coat type across Haxby, Strensall, Huntington, New Earswick and the surrounding villages. A well-kept coat makes spotting ticks far easier, so regular grooming is a quiet ally in tick season. Book a grooming appointment.