Ticks on Dogs: How to Spot, Remove and Prevent Them Safely

Short answer: check your dog after every walk, especially the ears, neck, armpits and between the toes. Remove any tick with fine-tipped tweezers, gripping it close to the skin and pulling straight out with steady pressure. Prevention is a vet-recommended tick product used all year, plus regular checks and grooming. A dog that turns dull, stops eating or runs a fever after a tick bite needs a vet the same day.

What ticks look like

Ticks are small, eight-legged parasites that latch on and feed on blood. Unfed, the common brown dog tick is about the size of a sesame seed and flat; once it has fed for a few days, it swells into a grey, bean-shaped blob that’s easy to mistake for a skin tag or wart. Look closely: a tick has tiny legs near the skin. Tick numbers rise in the rains and the warm months, but in Indian cities they’re around for most of the year.

Where ticks hide on a dog

  • Inside and behind the ears, and along the ear flaps
  • Under the collar and around the neck
  • In the armpits and the groin
  • Between the toes and around the paw pads
  • Around the eyes and at the base of the tail

Run your fingers slowly against the coat, feeling for small bumps. On thick-coated dogs, part the hair and look at the skin.

How to remove a tick safely

  1. Wear gloves if you can, and have fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool ready.
  2. Grip the tick as close to the skin as possible, by its head, not the swollen body.
  3. Pull straight out with slow, steady pressure. Don’t twist, jerk or squeeze the body.
  4. Clean the spot with a pet-safe antiseptic and wash your hands.
  5. Dispose of the tick in a sealed bag or a little surgical spirit. Don’t crush it with your fingers.

Never burn a tick, cover it in oil or kerosene, or pull it with your fingers. These make the tick release more saliva into the bite. If the mouthparts stay in the skin, leave them; the body usually pushes them out. See a vet if the spot becomes swollen or sore.

Warning signs that need a vet

Ticks can spread infections often called “tick fever”, which are common in India and can be serious. Contact a vet the same day if, in the days or weeks after a tick bite, your dog:

  • Seems unusually tired or dull, or stops eating
  • Has a fever, or pale gums
  • Bleeds from the nose, or has red spots on the gums or belly
  • Limps, has swollen joints, or vomits

Tell the vet about the tick. A simple blood test can confirm or rule out infection.

Prevention: what actually works

  • Year-round protection from your vet. Spot-ons, tablets and collars all exist; the right one depends on your dog’s age, weight and health. Use it on schedule, not only when you see ticks.
  • Check after every walk, especially after parks, grass or construction-site edges.
  • Treat the home too. The brown dog tick can live indoors, hiding in cracks and bedding. Wash your dog’s bedding in hot water weekly in tick season and vacuum corners and skirting.
  • Keep the coat manageable. Ticks are easier to find on a brushed, tidy coat. Trimming the hair between the toes and around the ears helps.

Does an anti-tick bath stop ticks?

An anti-tick bath can help remove and kill ticks already on your dog, but it doesn’t protect for long. Think of it as a clean-up, not prevention. Ask your vet before using any medicated shampoo on puppies, pregnant dogs or dogs on other treatments.

Ear checks go hand in hand with tick checks: see our guide to cleaning your dog’s ears safely.

A tick check at every groom. ThePetNest groomers check ears, armpits and paws for ticks at every visit and remove any they find, and the PawLuxe package adds an anti-tick treatment. In Noida, book dog grooming at home in Noida, including Expressway societies near the Sector 137 dog park. In Bangalore, ticks peak in the monsoon; see grooming at home in Bangalore. We also groom in Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad.

Ticks on dogs: FAQs

Can ticks from my dog bite people?

They can, though the brown dog tick prefers dogs. Wear gloves when removing ticks, wash your hands afterwards, and see a doctor if you’re bitten and feel unwell.

Can ticks live in my house?

Yes. The brown dog tick can breed indoors. Wash bedding, vacuum regularly and keep your dog on year-round protection.

What kills ticks on dogs instantly?

Nothing safe works instantly at home. Remove visible ticks with tweezers and use the tick protection your vet recommends. Avoid home remedies like kerosene, camphor or essential oils, which can harm dogs.

When is tick season?

Ticks peak in the rains and warm months, but in most Indian cities they’re present all year, so prevention shouldn’t stop in winter.