Step 1: Start with a visual overview of the skin. Examine for areas that appear red or irritated. If you see a spot, get a closer look. Is it a tick, a hot spot, or something else?
Step 2: Start at your pup’s head, and work your way over his body. Comb through the fur with your fingers, paying close attention to any bumps.
Check those hard to see areas, too!
Ticks are small and fast, and they like moist, dark areas. Make sure you check under the tail, in and around the groin, between toes, and armpits.
Step 3: Check your pup’s ears. Look inside and outside the
ear, use a low light flashlight to help you see deeper into the ear.
Step 4: Using a fine tooth comb, start in sections and check your dog’s fur section by section. If you hit a bump, check it out before moving to the next section.
Step 5: If you spot any ticks, grab some fine-point tweezers (you don’t want to tear the tick, extraction of the head AND body is key). Spread your pup’s fur, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, and pull upward slowly. Clean your dog’s skin and your hands with soap and water, and clean the area around the tick bite with alcohol to prevent infection.
