how to check for and remove ticks on your pet

Spring and summer are two of the most glorious seasons of the year for humans, pets, and ticks. These little suckers love the hotter months because warm-blooded creatures like your dog or cat are out and about and easy to hitch a ride on. We dig into what ticks are, how to spot them, and what to do if you find one on your pet.

What are ticks?

Ticks are parasites that feed on the blood of your pet (or you, for that matter) and swell as they feed (gross, right?). Prevalent year-round, ticks live in plants, trees, grass, and leaf litter. And while they can be found in all 50 states, the most tick-infested areas are in the Midwest, South, East, and Northeast.

When ticks suck on your dog or cat's blood, they can potentially cause the transmission of bacteria that can affect your pet’s health. Common tick-borne diseases found in dogs include Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, canine ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Bartonella. Cats can also contract Lyme disease, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis, as well as cytauxzoonosis. Learn more about the symptoms and prognoses of these diseases on our Tick-borne diseases page. There are a variety of disease-carrying ticks in the United States, with the most common being the black-legged tick, the American dog tick, the Lone Star tick, and the brown deer tick.

How to spot ticks

If you need help with where you might find a tick on your pet’s body, we have just the thing! Our helpful how-to video shows you common places where ticks hang out, including:

around the eyes and ears
under collars
front legs, back legs, and between toes
on the tail

If you live where common tick hangouts can be found, be sure to check your pet’s body for ticks when they come in from outside. Start by running your hands through their fur from back to front and look for black, brown, or red lumps. Note: Ticks can be tiny — the size of a sesame or apple seed — and may be hard to spot. Once they start feeding on your pet, they can swell to two-thirds of an inch in size.

What to do if you spot a tick

If you see a tick feeding on your pet, call your Banfield veterinary team as soon as possible. They can guide you through safe tick removal or do it for you. There are a few things that can look just like a tick in certain situations, like a wart or nipple. If you are unsure, it’s best to have a vet check it out so you don’t hurt your pet. If your dog or cat are not on tick-prevention medication, now is the time to start. Topical tick prevention absorbs through your pet’s skin and enters their blood where it helps kill and repel ticks and larvae. Oral tick prevention works in the same way but is taken by mouth instead. Most tablets are usually given once a month and require a prescription. Learn more about tick prevention or schedule an appointment with your vet today.