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Removing a tick from a dog or cat is a procedure that can easily be performed by the pet owner. The best way to remove a tick is by applying constant, gentle pressure backward, twisting slightly, until the tick comes out. Any pet owner who has difficulty removing a tick can stop by the clinic for assistance.

Ticks:
(click to enlarge)Ticks can leave a swelling on your pet’s skin once removed. Even if you don’t see any ticks, you might detect a swelling on the pet’s skin caused by a tick bite. These bumps can last up to two or three weeks, with or without the possibility of a retained tick head. If you feel that a part of the tick is still present after removal, feel free to have Kansas City Veterinary Care take a look.

Swelling from tick bites is not always easy to detect due to the pet’s fur, but there are other, more important symptoms to watch for once a pet has been bitten by a tick. Lethargy, lameness, joint swelling, fever, a rash in the area of a bite, and bruising of the skin and gums are all indications that your dog or cat may be suffering serious side effects of a tick bite.

Image shows appearance and relative sizes of adult male and female, nymph and larval ticks including deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis), Lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum), and dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis). Of those pictured, only the Ixodes scapularis ticks are known to transmit Lyme disease. Thanks to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Department of Health and Human Services.