Is it bad to pull a tick off of a dog?

Question

I found a tick on my dog's forehead this morning and pulled it off. I think the fangs or whatever they are called stayed in my dog b/c I didn't see them on the tick. My dog is still a puppy, (chihuahua) is there anything I should do at this point? I'm really worried since it's on his head and close to his brain. Can the "fangs" cause an infection? What should I do?

Answer 1

I hate to tell you this now that you have already done it, but pulling a tick off is not a good thing to do. You need to call your vet and have him seen. I know you have already removed the tick now but here is a link on how to remove a tick, and why it is bad to pull it off.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=62


GOOD LUCK:
Brandie!
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Wild_About_Animals/

Answer 2

Yes it is bad to pull ticks out, Don't do it. The head of a tick will break off and will stay inside of your pet. There is a Tick and flea liquid{small tube), called "Frontline". It starts to work within a day. You can get it at a pet store or the vet. Either place will have it. It is a once a month dose and comes in a box with 3 tubes: 3 months worth. It cost around $ 40.00 a box. It sounds like alot , but it is well worth it. One of my dogs had a bunch get on him and I put Frontline on him, and within a day they all started dying. Try it, you will be amazed and happy, and so will your dog! Good luck to both of you.

Answer 3

yes and no they usual fall off when its full of blood , but if you just pull it off the head stays in the dog person and so on, you must make sure you get the head out then clean the wound and take to a vet Dr, cause some tick carry lime disease rocky mountain spotted fever ticks and so serious tick bits so it always best to see the Dr for infection it Will or can kill the dog from infection if left UN treated, this goes for humans as well, and wash your hands after handling it these things are very infectious, take care , good question

Answer 4

Do not let the others answering your question scare you. We live where there are many ticks and we pull them off our dogs all the time and nothing happens to the dog.

For your own peace of mind, you can keep an eye on the spot where the tick bit your dog, but you should not be that worried about it. You could ask your vet if Lyme's disease is a problem in your area and if your dog needs a shot for that.

Answer 5

You have to soak the tick's body with alcohol for about three or four minutes before you remove the tick, or you will leave the tick's head under your dog's skin. The area will become infected if you fail to remove the tick's head, and it will take months for the area to heal. You have to pull at the tick's body very slowly after it has been soaked with alcohol to make sure the tick's head has been removed. You should keep an eye on the area where you removed the tick from. Take your puppy to the vet if puss starts to come from that area.

Answer 6

Yes it could be. It would be best to take your dog to the vet to verify that the entire tick was removed. It can cause problems if it was not. In the future us vasoline. Use a glob to cover the tick then wait a few minutes. The tick will back out on it's own then you can get it off without having to worry if you got it all or not.

Answer 7

Since your dog is a youngster, you should treat the area where you pulled the tick off, DO NOT however try to pull the ticks "fangs" off, if they are close to the inner skeptical skin layer, then you need to have your puppy to be looked at a professional veterinarian. If redness or bruising occurs keep treating your puppy with an antibiotic that is safe to use on your puppy. The puppy might get sick and vomit for a few hours or so if he/she is infected....ticks do carry Lyme disease and other harmful parasites in the environment. Go get you puppy checked up as soon as possible.

Answer 8

The correct way to remove a tick is to soak a cotton puff in rubbing alcohol and place it over the tick. This will cause the tick to back out. Then with tweezers pick up the tick and flush down the toilet. Being that you did not do that, just put anti-septic on a Q-tip (sorry for brand name) and place on the spot you removed tick from and keept the area clean.

Answer 9

I don't think it is bad to pull the tick off your dog, but just do it carefully, scratch it off using your nail usually will not hurt the dog at the least. Just throw the pulled ticks in the kerosene to kill them, don't crush, you won't see if they have eggs that might spread all over your dog's body. Pull ticks each time you find them. They are sucking your dog's blood and reproducing very quickly.

PS. Frontline spray and spot-on will help you for curative and preventive action against flea and ticks. I use it to my dog every two months.

Answer 10

It is unlikely that it will cause an infection....but you can use some of oil (cooking oil, body oil, whatever) and massage it in the area that the tick head is implanted...then use tweezers to pull it out...keep those tweezers just for your doggy, and next time you see a tick on your dog use them to grab the tick BY THE HEAD, and pull it completely out of your dog. Because even after a tick is popped, or squished it's eggs can live I would suggest burning the tick after you get it off.

Also you might consider getting your pet on flea/tick treatments, even if it doesn't have fleas. They sort of go hand in hand as far as treatments are concerned....
I would suggest Advantage, but that is just me, some people swear by Frontline>

Answer 11

To pull a tick off a dog you have to get the tick's head with a pair of tweezers and pull slowly & firmly to make sure to get it all. Then dispose of it by flushing it down the toilet.
If you think some of it is still under the skin, clean it and put some neosporin ointment on it. Just watch it for a day to make sure it doesn't turn red and look nasty. It will most likely be OK.