How to Remove a Tick From a Dog Safely (Step-by-Step Guide)

March 25 2025, by Michelle Ingram

It's very important to know how to safely remove a tick. Ticks can attach themselves to both humans and animals - meaning anyone is at risk of catching tick-borne diseases. Some handy tools help remove a tick, that little bit easier. Read on to find out more.

Like head lice are to every parent of school-aged children, ticks are every pet owner’s nightmare!

No doubt one of the most googled questions between May and September will be… How to remove a tick?

It is believed that 1 in 3 dogs are bitten by a tick, which was found in the largest UK study in 2015. And reported cases of Lyme disease a year (2022) are thought to be closer to 2,000 - 3,000.

Quick Answer

To remove a tick safely, slide a tick removal tool underneath the tick as close to the skin as possible. Twist gently until the tick releases. Avoid pulling, squeezing or burning the tick, as this may increase the risk of disease transmission. Clean the area afterwards and monitor for signs of irritation.

What Is a Tick?

Ticks are small, blood-feeding parasites that attach themselves to animals and people. They are related to spiders and mites and are commonly found in long grass, woodland, heathland and areas with dense vegetation.

When a tick finds a host, such as a dog, it attaches to the skin and feeds on blood. As it feeds, the tick gradually becomes larger and more noticeable. Some ticks can remain attached for several days before dropping off naturally.

Ticks are a concern because they can carry diseases that affect both pets and humans. Tick bites can also cause irritation, inflammation and in some cases, infection at the attachment site.

Regularly checking your dog for ticks after walks, especially in spring and summer, can help you spot and remove them quickly before they have a chance to feed for long periods or potentially spread disease.

Tip: Pay close attention to your dog's ears, neck, face, armpits, groin area and between the toes, as these are common places for ticks to attach.

What Does a Tick Look Like on a Dog?

If you've found a small bump on your dog and you're wondering whether it's a tick, comparing the tick to the examples below can help identify if it is a nymph, adult, engorged, Deer & dog tick, as it will help you know if it is a tick or a skin tag.. Ticks vary greatly in size depending on their species and life stage, and an engorged tick can look very different from a newly attached one.

How do I remove a tick?

Tick Tip

Popping your clothes in a dryer on high heat for 15 minutes is enough to kill any tourist ticks.

It's useful to keep a well-stocked pet first aid kit. Read our guide to Essential First Aid Tips for Dog Owners.

Choose from a range of Tick Twisters. To see our Tick Twister Collection, click here

How do I prevent ticks?

There are many ways that I try to prevent Chester from getting ticks on our walks, but there is only one way I remove them, whether that be from him, the cats, my children, the better half, or myself and that is by using a Tick Twister. Despite another myth surrounding ticks, there is no right or wrong way to twist them. In our crazy household, we have lefties, righties and then the show-offs that are both; this is what makes a Tick Twister all the more user-friendly.

Once removed, I keep the tick in a container or a zip-lock type bag and put it in the freezer for a month or so, because if any of us get ill, we can take it to the vets or doctors for it to be tested. One thing I have done for my daughter when she had one was I insisted on her being prescribed a two-week course of Doxycycline antibiotics as a precaution.

With Chester, it has been easier to prevent ticks than it has been with the cats. We had to remove a few last year, despite having spot-on treatment.

With Chester, I have him regularly groomed, so it is easier to find any if they do latch on.
I wash him weekly at home using Bugalugs Flea & Tick Shampoo
He also has regular spot-on treatment.
I also do weekly checks of his ProFleece pet bedding before I wash it.

Most humans are infected through the bites of immature ticks called nymphs. Nymphs are tiny (less than 2 mm) and difficult to see; they feed during the spring and summer months. Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USA), January 29, 2020

FAQs

Ticks are only active in spring/summer

Wrong, ticks can be active all year round if the temperature is above 4° a tick can survive and be active.

You cannot get bitten by a tick in towns and cities

Wrong, while ticks are more commonly found in moorlands, forested areas, and heathlands, they are also found in town and city parks and can even be picked up from your own back garden.

I haven’t had a bull’s-eye rash, so I don’t have Lyme Disease

Wrong, only around 20% of people who get Lyme disease get a rash and then the rash does not always show up in the area where you were bitten.

People don’t get bitten by ticks, so they cannot get Lyme disease

Wrong, ticks can and do attach to humans. Ticks that transmit diseases to your cat or dog can also transmit many of the same diseases to people.

Ticks can fly

Ticks do not have wings, so they cannot fly. People also mistakenly believe that ticks drop from trees when a suitable host comes by. This makes people wonder how ticks get into trees and then assume it must be by flying.

Ticks do not fly, run, or hop to infest a host. Instead, they climb up on brushy vegetation and wait for a host to pass by.

How do I know if it's a tick or a skin tag?

Yes, an attached, engorged tick can closely resemble a skin tag, mole, or scab. Ticks often latch onto the skin and swell as they feed, creating a bump that sits on a small stalk.

How to Tell Them Apart

Look for legs: Ticks are arachnids. If you look closely (or zoom in with your phone or a magnifying glass), you may see tiny legs near the base of the bump. Skin tags do not have legs.
Feel the texture: Gently touch the bump. Ticks generally feel firm, whereas skin tags are made of soft skin and hang loosely.
Check for movement: If you lightly prod it with a gloved finger or cotton swab, an attached tick might twitch or move its legs.

What does an engorged tick look like?

Knowing what a nymph, adult, engorged, Deer & dog tick looks like is important, as it will help you know if it is a tick or a skin tag.

Conclusion

Ticks are common across the UK and can affect both pets and people. Regular tick checks, especially after walks in long grass, woodland or heathland, can help you spot and remove ticks before they have a chance to cause problems.

Keeping a tick removal tool in your pet's first aid kit means you'll always be prepared. Safe, prompt removal is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of tick-borne disease and keep both you and your pets protected.