Follow these instructions to remove an attached tick from your pet or yourself:

Don't panic.   The chances of acquiring a tick-borne disease, or TBD, are low if the tick is removed during the first 24 to 36 hours after attachment.

There are many ideas about the best way to remove an attached tick, one of the most common tricks being to put a lit match on the tick to make the tick "angry" enough to back out on its own. The truth is, this can actually make things worse for you or your pet by potentially causing the tick to inject more foreign material.

Early removal of the tick is very important.

What You Need:

• Latex gloves
• Good pair of tweezers or tick removal tool
• Soap and water
• Alcohol
• Jar or plastic bag to label and save removed tick

When trying to remove the tick:

• DO NOT touch the tick with your bare hands or use your fingers to remove the tick.
• DO NOT squeeze the body of the tick as this may increase your risk of infection.
• DO NOT twist, jerk, or pull hard on the tick or you risk leaving the mouthparts in the skin.
• DO NOT put alcohol, nail polish remover or Vaseline on the tick.
• DO NOT put a hot match or cigarette on the tick in an effort to make it "back out."

These methods do not work and only increase the likelihood the tick will transmit TBD disease to you or your pet. Applying alcohol, nail polish remover, a hot match or Vaseline can irritate a tick and cause it to regurgitate its stomach contents into your or your pet’s skin. The stomach contents of a tick can contain the TBD disease-causing bacterium.

Here's the steps for removal:

1. When a tick is found embedded in the skin, use fine-pointed tweezers at the point of attachment, and grasp the tick head firmly and as close to the skin as possible. Remember to wear latex gloves when doing this. Instead of tweezers, you may also use a special tick removal device, which is usually shaped like a slotted spoon. These tick removal devices can be purchased at some pharmacies, retail outlets, or on-line.

2. Using slow, steady, and firm traction, pull the tick straight out from the skin.

3. It is critical to NOT squeeze the tick body at any time -- this can inject more potential pathogens in to you or your pet while the tick is embedded.

4. Cleanse the skin with mild soap and water.

5. If a small part of the tick breaks off, you can try to remove it as you would a splinter, but it is probably best to leave it alone. The body will 'eject' it in time.

6. Above all, be patient. Firmly embedded ticks are difficult to remove and it may take some time.

7. Place the tick in a jar of alcohol, noting the date, in case of future illness. Tick identification and location of tick infestation will be important.

Lakeside Veterinary clinic assumes no liability for injury to you or your pet incurred by following these descriptions or procedures.