Ticks are one of the worst enemies of dogs and cats because of the variety of diseases they can carry as well as other issues they can cause like tick paralysis.
This season has been exceptionally bad for ticks and other pet enemies, causing nothing less than stress and headaches for pet owners, not to mention putting the health of our pets at risk. What do you do when you find a tick on your dog or cat? Even if you think you know what to do, in most cases panic sets in and the first thing you do is reach for tweezers and try to pull the sucker out – that is what NOT to do!
This remedy comes from a nurse that took the advice of a pediatrician who believes this is the best way to remove a tick, whether it’s on your pets or your children.
“I had a pediatrician tell me what she believes is the best way to remove a tick. This is great because it works in those places where it’s sometimes difficult to get to with tweezers; between toes, in the middle of a head full of dark hair, etc.”
“Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few
seconds (15-20); the tick will come out on its own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away. This technique has worked every time I’ve used it (and that was frequently), and it’s much less traumatic for the patient and easier for me.”
“Unless someone is allergic to soap, I can’t see that this would be damaging in any way.”
Other DO NOT’s when it comes to tick removal:
- burn them off
- use nail polish
- use petroleum jelly
- freeze them off
- flush them down the toilet (it doesn’t kill them)
- use your fingers to remove it
- squash the tick with your fingers
Here’s another article with ways to properly remove ticks from your pets.
