Finding a tick on your dog or cat is unpleasant, but knowing what to do makes it easier. Ticks are small parasites that feed on blood and lymph, and they pass through four life stages (egg, larva, nymph and adult). Ticks can carry a range of infections, and the saliva of some species contains a toxin that can cause a form of paralysis. [1] Pets can also bring ticks indoors, where they may bite people. [2]
This guide covers where to look, how to remove a tick, what to watch at the bite site, and when to call your vet.
Which pets get ticks?
Dogs and cats usually pick up ticks while they are outside. [2] Most tick species are not fussy about which animal they feed on, and the two hard ticks most often found on dogs and cats in North America are the brown dog tick and the American dog tick. [1]
The brown dog tick deserves a special mention. It can finish its whole life cycle on a dog and breed indoors, in homes and kennels, so an infestation can build up in the pet’s surroundings and be hard to clear. [1][2] Pets can also carry other ticks into the house from outside. [2]
Where to check
The CDC advises checking pets that go outdoors for ticks every day, especially after time outside. [2] Ticks are easy to miss, and long or dark coats make them even harder to find. [2] Run your hands slowly over the whole body and look closely at the skin, not just the coat.
Check the ears too. One soft tick, the spinose ear tick (Otobius megnini), lives in the ear canal, and large numbers of these ticks can irritate the canal enough to cause ear inflammation. [1] If your dog is shaking its head or scratching an ear after time outdoors, see our guide to ear infections in dogs.
What a tick looks like on your pet
Ticks at different life stages may be seen fixed to the skin, from tiny larvae and nymphs to larger adults. [1] A tick that has been feeding for a while swells with blood and becomes easier to see. Vets usually find ticks simply by looking for them during a physical exam or an ear exam. [1]
How to remove a tick
Remove any tick you find on your pet right away. [2]
- Use tweezers or wear gloves. Grip the tick close to the skin with fine-tipped tweezers or a gloved hand. A veterinary dermatology handbook describes grasping the tick with forceps or a gloved finger and pulling slowly until it comes free. [1]
- Pull steadily. The CDC’s tick removal guidance (written for tick bites on people) advises pulling with “steady, even pressure” and not twisting or jerking, because that can make the mouthparts break off and stay in the skin. [3]
- Keep your bare hands off it. Ticks can carry infections that also affect people, so protect your own skin while you work. [1][3]
- Do not use heat or substances to make it let go. The CDC advises against petroleum jelly, heat, nail polish or other substances, which may agitate the tick and push infected fluid into the skin. [3]
- Do not crush the tick with your fingers. [3] The CDC lists ways to dispose of a live tick: place it in a sealed container, wrap it tightly in tape, flush it down the toilet, or put it in alcohol. [3]
If your pet has many ticks, or ticks keep coming back, do not try to deal with it alone at home. Heavy or persistent infestations need a treatment plan from your veterinarian, and the home may need attention too if brown dog ticks are involved. [1] A pet that becomes weak or wobbly in the legs needs a vet straight away, because tick saliva can cause paralysis; pets usually recover quickly once every tick is removed. [1]
Watching the bite site afterwards
Keep an eye on any spot where you removed a tick. Some redness, a small crust or a small bump can form there, caused by the immune system reacting to proteins in tick saliva. [1] If the bite site gets bigger, more swollen or sore, or does not settle, a prompt trip to the veterinarian is warranted. For general care of small skin wounds, see minor wound care for dogs and cats.
Ticks can spread several infections to dogs and cats, including Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, babesiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. [1] The CDC notes that signs of a tickborne illness can take one to three weeks, sometimes longer, to show after the bite, so watch your pet closely for changes in behavior or appetite if you know or suspect a tick has bitten it. [2]
Preventing ticks
- Check daily and reduce tick habitat. Daily checks help keep pets healthy and may stop crawling ticks from reaching people. The CDC also suggests reducing tick habitat in your yard. [2]
- Ask your vet about tick control. The CDC says it is important to use tick prevention on dogs, and to ask your veterinarian which option suits your dog. [2] If your pet seems unwell after a flea or tick product, see what to do after a reaction to a flea or tick product.
- Cats need extra care. Cats are very sensitive to many chemicals, and only products registered for cats should be used on them. [1][2] The CDC says not to apply any tick prevention product to a cat without first asking your veterinarian. [2]
- Vaccines: the CDC notes that, except for Lyme disease in dogs, pets cannot be vaccinated against tickborne diseases. Ask your vet about the diseases in your area. [2]
When to see your vet
See your vet promptly if:
- A tick bite site gets bigger, swollen or sore, or does not settle [1]
- Your pet has many ticks, or ticks keep coming back [1]
- Your pet becomes weak or unsteady on its legs [1]
- Your pet’s behavior or appetite changes in the days or weeks after a tick bite [2]
The CDC also suggests talking to your vet about the tickborne diseases that occur in your area. [2]
FAQ
Can I pull a tick off my dog with my fingers?
Use tweezers or wear gloves rather than bare fingers. Grasp the tick close to the skin and pull slowly and steadily. [1][3]
What if the head stays in?
The CDC notes that twisting or jerking can leave the mouthparts in the skin. [3] Watch the spot, and see your vet if it swells, gets sore or does not settle.
Is a small bump after a tick bite normal?
A little redness, a small crust or a small bump can follow a tick bite, as a reaction to tick saliva. [1] If it grows, gets sore or you are unsure, ask your vet.
Can I use my dog’s tick product on my cat?
No, not without your vet’s advice. Cats are very sensitive to many chemicals, and only products registered for cats should be used on them. [1][2]
Do indoor cats get ticks?
Pets usually meet ticks outdoors, but they can carry ticks into the home, and the brown dog tick can live indoors. [1][2] If you find a tick on an indoor cat, check your other pets too.
The bottom line
Check outdoor pets daily, remove any attached tick promptly with tweezers and steady pressure, and watch the bite site. A bite site that grows or gets sore, a heavy infestation, weakness in the legs, or changes in your pet’s behavior or appetite all mean it is time to see your vet.
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for veterinary advice. If your pet has ticks, a swollen bite site, or seems unwell, please see your veterinarian.
Sources
- Torres SMF. 3.16 Tick Infestation: Dogs and Cats. In: Small and Large Animal Dermatology Handbook, Volume 1. University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing (2025). CC BY 4.0. https://open.lib.umn.edu/animaldermatology/chapter/tick-infestation-dogs-and-cats/
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing Ticks on Pets (May 14, 2024). https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/prevention/preventing-ticks-on-pets.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What to Do After a Tick Bite (June 9, 2026). https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/after-a-tick-bite/index.html