Found a Tick? Here's What to Do Next
Finding a tick on your dog or cat can be an unsettling moment, but knowing exactly what to do next makes all the difference. While it’s natural to feel worried when you spot fleas or ticks, the key to protecting your pet lies in a steady hand and a clear plan. Whether your pet is a frequent trail hiker or a backyard explorer, knowing how to handle these parasites is an essential part of responsible pet ownership.
Why Ticks Are a Year-Round Threat
A common misconception among pet owners is that ticks are only a problem during warm spring and summer months. In reality, ticks are a year-round risk for dogs and cats, particularly in many parts of the United States where milder winters allow tick activity to continue. According to the Companion Animal Parasite Council, “Because ticks transmit a wide variety of disease agents to pets and people and are active throughout the year, tick control must be practiced consistently to protect the health of the pet and to prevent untreated pets from bringing ticks – which may then infest people - into the home.”
This ongoing exposure matters because ticks are capable of transmitting several serious tick-borne diseases in dogs. These infections are not always obvious immediately following the bite. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that symptoms of tick-borne illness may take 7 to 21 days to appear after a bite, possibly longer. This delay makes prevention especially important, since treatment is often most effective when started early.
Because of this incubation period, pets may go through what veterinarians sometimes refer to as a “silent infection window.” During this time, a dog or cat may appear completely normal while the infection is developing internally. By the time more noticeable clinical signs of tick-borne disease appear, the illness may already be well established and require more intensive treatment. This is why consistent year-round tick prevention for pets is far more effective than reacting after a bite occurs.
Where to Check Your Pet for Ticks
The CDC recommends checking your pets for ticks daily, especially after they spend time outdoors. Ticks prefer warm, hidden areas of the body where they can feed undisturbed. On dogs, pay close attention to the area in and around the ears, around the eyelids, under the collar, under the front legs, between the toes, between the back legs and around the tail. For cats, the same areas apply, though cats will often groom ticks off before you spot them, making prevention and veterinary-recommended repellents especially important.
Ticks crawling on or biting a pet can be hard to spot, especially for breeds with long and dark fur. Take your time and use your fingertips to feel through the coat rather than relying on sight alone.
How to Remove a Tick from Your Pet
If you find a tick on your pet, the priority is to remove the feeding tick as soon as possible. Because the risk of pathogen transmission increases the longer a tick remains attached to its host, acting quickly is the most effective way to protect your pet’s bloodstream from infection. A tick’s anatomy is designed for a secure hold, featuring a one-piece body equipped with harpoon-like barbs on the mouthparts, supported by crab-like legs and a sticky, cement-like secretion that anchors it firmly in place.
The AKC provides clear, vet-informed guidance on how to remove a tick from your dog using fine-point tweezers or a tick removal hook. They advise spreading your dog's fur, grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible with fine-point tweezers and pulling straight upward in a slow, steady motion to prevent the mouth parts from breaking off and remaining embedded in the skin.
What To Do After Removal
Successfully removing a tick is an important first step, but it does not eliminate the risk of infection; it only reduces it. Because tick-borne illnesses can take days or even weeks to develop, it’s important to closely monitor both the bite site and your pet’s overall health for several weeks following removal.
In some cases, preserving the tick can also be helpful. Veterinary guidance from the Companion Animal Parasite Council notes that keeping the tick may assist with later identification if illness occurs:
“Save the removed tick, wrapped in cellophane tape or in a vial with alcohol, in case it is needed for identification later. The tape or vial can be sealed in a plastic bag, labeled with the date found, and frozen. If illness develops, identification of the tick and the day it was discovered may aid the physician in recognizing which infection was most likely transmitted and allow prompt, appropriate treatment.”
Storing the tick in this way can provide valuable context for your veterinarian or physician, helping them better assess potential disease risks and make more informed decisions if symptoms appear later.
Staying One Step Ahead
Ticks may be small and hard to spot, but the health risks they carry are significant and often delayed. With the right knowledge and consistent habits, you can dramatically reduce your pet’s risk of serious illness. From daily tick checks and quick removal to close monitoring in the weeks that follow, every step you take plays a role in protecting your pet’s long-term health.
Prevention remains the most effective strategy for all pets. Year-round tick control, combined with routine inspections and quick action when a tick is found, helps break the cycle of exposure before disease can take hold. Staying calm and informed ensures you will respond quickly and confidently when that time comes.
Koala Health makes it easier to stay consistent with your pet’s prevention routine, so you’re always prepared when ticks are waiting to attach. By combining reliable protection with simple, proactive habits, you give your pet a stronger defense against tick-borne disease. Small, consistent actions today can go a long way in helping your dog or cat stay healthy, active and protected throughout the year.