Spring has definitely sprung in Nashville! And that means tick season is brewing as well.
I’m assuming that due to a mild winter, ticks will be worse this year. After going for a hike, we discovered one on Benny. I know this is gross, but the tick was engorged so I couldn’t just pull it out with tweezers and burning them off sounds awful. (Besides, pulling ticks out with tweezers is dangerous because there is always the risk of leaving part of the head. Leaving behind part of the tick can lead to infection in your dog. Something we definitely all try to avoid!) Thanks to google, we found a non-invasive way that was easy, quick and no side effects! The best way to remove a tick from your dog is to rotate the body until it pulls out. Put on a glove and place your finger on the end of the tick body. Rotate the body clockwise. (Be sure to rotate the entire body.) The movement must throw off ticks’ equilibrium because within 60 seconds they will completely detach themselves from your dog. (It took about 30 seconds with Benny.) Place the tick in a plastic bag and kill it. Keep it for a couple of days. You’ll want to monitor your pup to make sure he feels okay as ticks are carriers of Lyme Disease. Let me know if this works for you!
Does anyone have natural ways to keep dogs tick-free? If so, please share below!
Adrian Hitt is a nationally recognized, award-winning dog photographer who creates modern, playful works of art. Her interest in dog photography is founded in her desire to celebrate and encourage the deep bond that develops between human and animal, parent and dog. In her free time, she photographs dogs awaiting adoption at local rescues and shelters. Her proudest moment? Spending everyday with the inspiration behind her career – Benny a charming -and perfect- black mouth cur shepherd rescue. Adrian lives in Nashville, Tennessee and travels nationwide to photograph America’s beloved pets.
