How to Safely Remove a Tick from a Dog Without Tweezers

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Easy ways to remove a tick with items around your house

Co-authored by Natalie Punt, DVM and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: March 7, 2025 Fact Checked

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Removing Ticks

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What to Avoid

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What to Do After Removal

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Tick Prevention

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Video

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Tips

Ticks can hop onto your dog at any time and place, especially when you’re in a densely grassy or woodland area. But what if you don’t have tweezers on hand to remove the tick? While removing a tick with tweezers is the best and most effective method, there are other strategies that can work in a pinch, and we'll explain them all below. Plus, we’ve even provided plenty of tips on what to do after removing a tick and how to prevent tick bites.

Removing Ticks Without Tweezers

Use a credit card with a small "v" cut into the edge or dental floss to gently scrape the tick off your dog's skin. Or, heat a needle and place it near the tick's head to encourage it to dislodge itself from your dog's skin. If you do have tweezers, use them to grasp the tick tightly and pull it out.

Section 1 of 4:

Safe Ways to Remove Ticks Without Tweezers

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1
Scrape the tick off with a credit card. Cut a "v" that's no larger than the tick's head into your credit card. Then, lining up the "v" with the tick's head, slide the card under the tick. Now, try to gently edge the tick's head from your dog's skin with the card.^{[1]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health

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- The goal is to remove the tick entirely, especially the head. These parasites attach to your dog via tiny hooks in the skin.
- Attempting to forcefully rip the tick from your dog's skin risks leaving the head attached.
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Use dental floss to pull the tick out. Unspool a length of dental floss—6 in (15 cm) is more than enough. Loop the dental floss around the tick’s mouthparts, wrapping as close to the skin as possible. Tie a knot on the other side of the tick to form a small circle around the parasite's belly. Finally, tug upwards on the string to pull the tick from your dog’s skin.^{[2]
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- If you’re having trouble looping close enough to the skin, try using a straw. Loop and tie your floss around the straw. Place the straw over the belly of the tick, with the end as close to the head as possible. Then, slide the floss off of the straw.
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3
Force the tick to detach using heat and a needle. Heat a needle by holding it inside a flame for a few seconds, preferably with a match. Hold the hot needle directly on top of the tick—if possible, on the parasite's head. Now, wait. The heat may encourage the tick to dislodge its head.^{[3]
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- Note that this approach involves risk. If the tick dies while still attached to your dog's skin, removing the head could become even more challenging.
- Heat can also cause the tick to produce more saliva. This saliva can carry diseases that can infect your pet with illnesses.
- If you're in a pinch, you may decide this method is still worth trying. But if you have other options available, try something with less risk first.
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Use a tick-removal kit. The best and most effective way to remove ticks is with tweezers. Keep a tick-removal kit on hand in case you encounter another tick. These kits typically include tweezer-like tools that can safely and easily remove ticks.^{[4]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.

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- The tools in these ticks usually put less pressure on the tick's body, reducing the risk of accidentally forcing the parasite to regurgitate harmful diseases.
C.J. Puotinen, Holistic Pet Care Writer

When removing ticks, take care not to squeeze the tick's body or leave the head embedded, as this can lead to infection. Gentle, steady pressure is key—rotate slowly without pulling too hard. And always disinfect the area after removal.
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Use tweezers if you have them. Using tweezers is the best and safest way to remove a tick from your dog. Locate the tick and spread your dog’s fur to get a better look. Veterinarian Natalie Punt recommends grasping the tick tightly with the tweezers as close to the skin as possible.^{[5]
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Natalie Punt, DVM
Veterinarian

Expert Interview} With a straight, steady motion, pull the tick out. ^{[6]
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The Humane Society of the United States
National organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfare

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- The goal is to get the tick out of the skin in one piece, as anything left behind could cause an infection.
- Avoid holding the tick too tightly. You don’t want it to crush or pop.
- Avoid jerky motions, and take your time.

Section 2 of 4:

What to Avoid When Removing a Tick

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Avoid removal methods that suffocate or pull at the tick. Removing a tick the wrong way increases the risk of illness. If you aggravate the tick, you may end up causing the tick to embed itself into the skin without actually killing it. Bursting the tick, causing it to produce more saliva, or causing it to regurgitate its stomach's contents could all release dangerous diseases capable of infecting your dog.^{[7]
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services

Go to source} Stay away from these methods:
- Suffocating the tick with olive oil or soap^{[8]
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  HealthyChildren.org
  Health information from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
  
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- Smothering with alcohol, Vasoline, or nail polish^{[9]
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  Cleveland Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  
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- Pulling the tick off with your fingers
- Burning the tick with cigarettes or matches

Section 3 of 4:

What to Do After Removing a Tick

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1
Clean the tick bite and your tools. After the tick is removed, make sure to clean the area gently with soap and water. Then, apply a disinfectant or antiseptic cream to help prevent infection and irritation.^{[10]
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The Humane Society of the United States
National organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfare

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2
Drop the tick into isopropyl alcohol to save it. It’s always better to save the tick just in case your dog experiences signs of infection. Once the tick is removed, place it in a small amount of isopropyl alcohol. Make note of when it was removed. Keep the tick for a few weeks in case your vet needs to see it.^{[11]
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The Humane Society of the United States
National organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfare

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- Tick-borne illness symptoms include arthritis, swollen joints, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, loss of appetite, and neurological problems.
- Contact your vet if your dog experiences any of these symptoms after a tick has been found, and bring them the tick to be tested.
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Flush the tick down the toilet to dispose of it. While preserving and saving the tick for inspection is always smart, it isn’t necessary. If you don’t want to save the tick, get rid of it by squeezing it inside a tissue and flushing it down the toilet. This prevents the parasite from finding its way back to your pet (or you).^{[12]
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- Never use your bare fingers to crush or pop a tick, as this can spread disease.
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Call your vet if you notice signs of infection. Once you remove the tick, your dog's risk of disease drops significantly; however, illness is still possible. Disease transmission typically shows in the form of a rash or irritated skin. Check your dog daily. If you notice abnormal skin around the tick bite, call your vet right away.^{[13]
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Section 4 of 4:

How to Prevent Tick Bites

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1
Use a flea and tick topical treatment or collar on your dog. One of the best ways to prevent ticks is to give your dog an extra layer of protection from these parasites. Topical treatments and collars put a shield around your pet, which can help deter ticks or make it more difficult for them to latch on.^{[14]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.

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- Talk to your vet about which treatment or collar would be best for your pet and their needs.
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Wash your dog with a flea or tick shampoo. Flea and tick shampoo helps kill any remaining parasites on your dog. Pick up some flea and tick shampoo from your local pet store. Follow the shampoo’s instructions and bathe your dog, thoroughly scrubbing the skin and letting the shampoo sit for the recommended amount of time.^{[15]
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The Humane Society of the United States
National organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfare

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- For your dog's safety and comfort, be careful not to get shampoo into their eyes or ears.
- Shampoo your dog weekly if they're at risk for tick bites.^{[16]
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  American Kennel Club
  The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
  
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3
Keep your yard maintained. Ticks like to hide in overgrown vegetation. A great way to prevent ticks is to keep your lawn as short as possible, tame any overgrown bushes or shrubs, and remove excess leaves.^{[17]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.

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- Similarly, avoid walking your dog in unkept outdoor areas.
4
Check your dog for ticks. While this isn’t a preventative measure, it can help you spot a tick right away and figure out where the tick may have come from. Make sure to check your dog’s skin for ticks after walks through woods or densely grassy areas.^{[18]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.

Go to source}
- Look closely on the feet (particularly between the toes), under the legs, on the lips, around the eyes and ears, around the butt, and under the tail, as this is where ticks most commonly hide.