Get it Off! I found a tick - what do I do?

Getting a tick off you or your pet quickly is one way to keep from getting lyme disease.  Whether it's on you or your pet, there are certain ways of removing ticks safely and completely.  There are also many wrong ways of doing it that can leave part of the tick in the wound or cause other problems.


Our favorite method for removing a tick from a person or cat:
Get a Q-Tip and moisten one end with some oil.
With the oily end of the Q-tip, begin to rub in a circle around and around the tick, agitating it.
Keep rotating it until the tick backs out.
Save the tick for testing, or flush it down the toilet, and toss your Q-tip into the garbage.


There are other methods of tick removal out there, so you have a choice.  Another method, suggested by the GlobalLymeAlliance uses tweezers this way:

"Using fine-pointed tweezers, grasp the tick at the place of attachment, as close to the skin as possible.

1. Gently pull the tick straight out with steady, even pressure. Do not squeeze, twist or jerk the tick. (Watch this video for removal tips.)
2. Do not touch the tick with your bare hands.
3. Wash your hands with soap & water, apply rubbing alcohol or antiseptic to bite site.
4. Place tick in a zippered plastic bag with a moist cotton ball and bring it to your local health department or private lab for testing.
5. If a rash appears, take a photo, write down any symptoms you may have and call/visit your doctor immediately."

Animals present a different set of challenges.  

First, they have lots of fur so finding a tick can be tough.  Removing a tick can also be tough on a patient that might not be in favor of the whole idea and has four paws with claws to resist.  The Q-Tip method, above, is a gentler way to approach it.  For another option, Petbasics.com recommends this process, which also uses tweezers:

 - "Prepare for tick removal 
Gather your supplies: latex gloves, cat comb, small tweezers, a jar or plastic bag with rubbing alcohol, and a cotton swab. If possible, enlist another person to help hold the cat while you remove the tick.

 - Pat the hair down
Wet the cat's hair a bit with rubbing alcohol or water so it can be patted down or parted for better visualization of the tick. Hold the hair back with one hand so you can see it clearly. Know your limits, though: If the tick is in the cat's ear, particularly deep into the ear canal, you may need to take your cat to the vet for removal.

 - Remove the tick
With a gloved hand, use the tweezers and grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull it out firmly without twisting. Avoid quick, jerking movements. You want a slow, methodical pull. Check the tick to make sure you've gotten all of it out of your cat's skin. Ticks can be harder to remove than you might think, and the cat may get tense at this stage.

Sometimes, a tick might break in half during removal, leaving its mouthparts still in the skin of your cat. This is not uncommon. If there is enough of the mouthparts that are still seen and can be grasped by the tweezers, go ahead and try to pull the remaining part out. If this is not the case, or if a good grasp cannot be had, it is best to leave the area alone and let the body work the mouthparts out on its own, just as a splinter does in human skin.

Simply wash the area with warm soapy water and keep an eye on it to make sure it is healing and not becoming red or inflamed. Continual prodding of the area with tweezers, may not only be painful for the cat, it could push the mouth parts further into the skin, causing irritation and potential infection.

Even if the tick is gone, your cat might not be in the clear. Ticks can leave organisms behind in the cat that can make them sick. In the following days and weeks, look for signs of lethargy, jaundice (yellowing of the ears and white parts of the eyes), lack of appetite, or heavy breathing. Alert your vet if you observe any of these.

 - Save the tick
Rather than dispose of the tick, place it on a piece of paper, covered with clear tape. Take the paper with the tick to the vet for helpful identification. You can also put the tick in the rubbing alcohol so that it dies.

 - Treat your cat
Give your cat a treat for being such a good patient!"

That last point would probably be a good idea whichever method of tick removal you use on your cat!  Last resort:  If you don't feel comfortable trying to remove a tick from your cat, call your vet right away and they will help you.