The tick's head remains on a dog, what should be done? - briefly
Use fine‑point tweezers to grasp the tick’s «mouthparts» as close to the skin as possible and pull straight upward with steady pressure; then clean the area with antiseptic and monitor for infection.
The tick's head remains on a dog, what should be done? - in detail
When a tick’s mouthparts remain embedded in a dog’s skin, the risk of infection and disease transmission increases. Prompt removal of the retained fragment reduces tissue irritation and prevents bacterial entry.
The recommended procedure is:
- Disinfect the area with an antiseptic solution such as chlorhexidine or povidone‑iodine.
- Grasp the visible portion of the tick’s body with fine‑pointed tweezers as close to the skin as possible.
- Apply steady, upward pressure to pull the tick straight out, avoiding twisting or crushing the mouthparts.
- If the head stays lodged, use a sterile, sharp scalpel or fine‑pointed needle to gently lift the residual part. Cut the surrounding skin only if necessary to expose the tip, then extract it with tweezers.
- Place the removed material in a sealed container for identification if required.
- Re‑apply antiseptic to the wound and cover with a clean gauze pad.
After removal, monitor the site for signs of redness, swelling, or discharge. Clean the area daily with antiseptic and change the dressing until healing occurs. Record the date of removal and any observations for future reference.
If the retained fragment cannot be accessed without causing significant tissue damage, or if the wound shows signs of infection, seek veterinary assistance immediately. A veterinarian may perform a more invasive extraction under sedation and prescribe antibiotics or anti‑inflammatory medication as needed.