A quick tick check after a walk can help you find a tick before it stays attached for long. Make it part of your dog’s usual routine, especially after time in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas. Choose a bright spot and use your fingers to part the fur down to the skin. Ticks can be tiny, so check slowly rather than relying on a quick glance over your dog’s coat.
Check These Common Hiding Places
Start at your dog’s head and work toward the tail. Feel around the ears, including the folds and the area where each ear meets the head. Check around the eyes, lips, and muzzle, then run your fingers under the collar. Ticks may feel like small bumps attached to the skin, but also look for legs or a dark, rounded body.
Move your hands over the neck, chest, belly, and legs. Part the fur in the armpits, between the toes, and around the groin and tail. Pay attention to areas where the fur is thick or the skin is folded. A comb can help separate longer fur, but use your fingers to feel close to the skin.
Make the Check Easier
Ask your dog to stand or lie somewhere comfortable, and use treats or calm praise to help them stay settled. Check one section at a time, parting the coat with one hand while feeling the skin with the other. If your dog has a thick or long coat, use a light to see the skin clearly and give yourself time to check carefully.
After checking your dog, inspect the collar, harness, leash, and any blanket or gear used on the walk. Ticks can crawl onto these items. If you find one, remove it from the gear and check your dog again. A tick comb may help with loose debris, but it does not replace a hands-on skin check.
Remove an Attached Tick Safely
Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool. Part the fur, grasp the tick as close to your dog’s skin as possible, and pull upward with steady, even pressure. Avoid squeezing the tick’s body, twisting it, or covering it with petroleum jelly, nail polish, or heat. These methods can make removal less safe.
After removal, clean the bite area and your hands. Put the tick in a sealed container or bag if you want to show it to your veterinarian; do not crush it with bare fingers. Check the bite site over the next few days. If a small part remains embedded or you are unsure how to remove the tick, ask your veterinarian for guidance rather than digging at the skin.
Know When to Call the Vet
Contact your veterinarian if your dog develops a rash, swelling, unusual tiredness, fever, reduced appetite, or changes in walking or behavior after a tick bite. Seek advice promptly if you find several ticks, cannot remove one safely, or are uncertain whether the tick was attached. A veterinarian can assess your dog and recommend next steps based on the bite and your pet’s health.
Regular checks work best alongside a prevention plan recommended for your dog. Ask your veterinarian which options suit your pet, especially if your dog spends time outdoors or lives with other pets. For help addressing ticks around your home or yard, Rose City Pest Care serves Portland, Oregon.
A steady, head-to-tail check helps you spot ticks in the places dogs can’t easily reach. Remove an attached tick carefully, watch the bite site, and contact your veterinarian if you have concerns or notice changes in your dog. Make the check part of your after-walk routine, and ask your vet about prevention that fits your pet.