Ticks aren't just annoying little bugs. They can infect your dog with Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and other tick-borne diseases.
So if your pooch loves the great outdoors -- particularly if she wanders into wooded areas -- make sure to check her coat thoroughly and often, especially around the ears and neck. If you spot the bloodsuckers, remove them as soon as possible!
A tick that has burrowed into your dog's skin may be tricky to take out. Here's how to do it:
1. Slip on a pair of gloves to avoid direct contact with the tick.
2. Use tweezers to grasp the tick by its head at the point where it's attached to your pet's body.
3. Gently pull the tick away from the skin, but do not twist. Make sure you remove the entire tick -- anything left under the skin can cause an infection.
4. Clean the bite area with antiseptic, and wipe your tweezers with rubbing alcohol. You can kill the tick by placing it in a glass jar that contains at least several inches of the alcohol.
Contact your vet if the skin around the tick bite remains irritated. And to protect your pet during tick season (generally April through September), use a tick-preventive product that your vet recommends.
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