If you find a tick on your dog, remove it promptly with fine-tipped tweezers — grasp it close to the skin and pull straight up — then prevent the next one with a vet-recommended tick preventive. Dogs are magnets for ticks and can catch tick-borne diseases like Lyme, so year-round prevention plus daily tick checks during the season is the real answer.
Key Takeaways
- Remove attached ticks promptly with fine-tipped tweezers, straight up, close to the skin.
- Use a vet-recommended preventive (oral, topical, or collar) year-round — it’s the core protection.
- Check your dog daily in tick season, especially ears, neck, between toes, and under legs.
- Dogs get tick-borne diseases too — Lyme, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and others.
- Ask your vet about the Lyme vaccine for dogs in high-risk areas.
How to remove a tick from your dog
The technique is the same as for people:
- Part the fur so you can see where the tick is attached to the skin.
- Grasp the tick with fine-tipped tweezers (or a pet tick-removal tool) as close to the skin as possible.
- Pull straight up with steady, even pressure — don’t twist or jerk, which can leave mouthparts behind.
- Don’t squeeze the tick’s body, and avoid the folk remedies (petroleum jelly, matches) that don’t work and can make things worse (CDC: Tick Removal).
- Clean the bite with pet-safe antiseptic or soap and water, and wash your hands.
- Dispose of the tick in alcohol or sealed tape; note the date in case symptoms appear.
If your dog has many ticks, or you’re not comfortable removing one near the eyes or another sensitive spot, your veterinarian can help.
Where ticks hide on dogs
Run your hands and eyes over the spots ticks favor, where they’re warm and hidden:
- Ears and inside the ear flaps
- Around the neck and under the collar
- Between the toes and in the paw pads
- Under the front legs (armpits) and groin
- Around the face, eyelids, and chin
A daily check during tick season catches ticks before they’ve been attached long enough to transmit disease.
Preventing ticks on your dog
Removal handles today’s tick; prevention is what protects your dog long-term:
- Vet-recommended tick preventives are the foundation — modern oral chews, topical “spot-on” treatments, and long-acting collars are far more reliable than older products. Your vet will match the product to your dog’s weight, age, and health.
- Never use a product meant for a different species or weight class, and be cautious combining products — follow veterinary guidance, since some ingredients can be harmful if misused.
- Keep your dog out of tall grass and brush on walks, and stick to mown paths.
- Manage your yard so it’s less tick-friendly (see ticks in the yard).
- Ask about the canine Lyme vaccine if you live where Lyme is common.
Tick-borne diseases in dogs
Dogs can contract Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and babesiosis from ticks. Signs to watch for after a bite include limping or joint pain, lethargy, fever, loss of appetite, and swollen lymph nodes — sometimes weeks later. If your dog shows these signs, see your vet and mention the tick exposure. Knowing the types of ticks in your region helps gauge which diseases are a concern.
For your whole household, pair pet protection with the personal and yard steps in our guide to getting rid of ticks — pets are a common way ticks get indoors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a tick off my dog?
Part the fur, grasp the tick with fine-tipped tweezers as close to the skin as possible, and pull straight up with steady pressure — no twisting. Clean the area afterward and wash your hands. Avoid petroleum jelly or heat, which don’t work and can increase risk.
What is the best tick prevention for dogs?
A vet-recommended preventive — an oral chew, topical treatment, or long-acting collar — is the most reliable protection, used year-round. Your veterinarian can choose the safest effective option for your specific dog, since products are dosed by species, weight, and health.
Can dogs get sick from ticks?
Yes. Dogs can contract Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and other tick-borne illnesses. Watch for limping, lethargy, fever, or appetite loss after a bite — sometimes weeks later — and see your vet if they appear.
Where do ticks hide on dogs?
In warm, hidden areas: the ears, around the neck and collar, between the toes, under the legs, and around the face. Check these spots daily during tick season so you can remove any tick before it’s attached long enough to transmit disease.