I just found a tick on my dog/cat…What should I do?

First, make sure it is a tick and not a small growth.


Wet down the fur around the tick and look close to the skin.  You should be able to see the tick’s legs. Once you have positively identified the tick, it is time to remove it. Grasp the tick with tweezers, as close to the skin as possible, and gently pull backwards until it comes free of the skin. Sometimes all or part of the tick’s head will remain embedded in the skin. Leave it alone! Trying to remove it will just increase irritation at the site. Your pet’s immune system will take care of it. Expect a bump to be present after the bite for 7-14 days. If you are finding ticks on your pet, contact us for recommendations on tick control.

If your pet is infected from the tick disease, it will not be traceable until a few months after a bite.

We are not able to test ticks for diseases. Please reach out to the New York State Department of Health for more information on tick collection programs.

If you are without a means of removing the tick, we do have a limited amount of free tick pullers donated by the Department of Health with information pamphlets. Please call us or stop by to receive a kit.


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