How to Remove Ticks From Ears

Ticks can transmit diseases to both humans and their pets, so it is crucial to remove them as soon as possible. There are many old wives tales about tick removal, including holding a burning match to the tick or covering the tick with petroleum jelly or nail polish. These methods can actually increase disease transmission.

Since dog owners scratch their dog's head often, the ears are a common place to find ticks first. When you find a tick on your dog's ears, use the proper tick removal technique to remove it and check your dog's entire body for additional ticks.

Part the fur around the tick using your fingers.

Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible with the tweezers. Slowly pull the tick away from the skin.

Place the tick in the sealable plastic baggie. Write the date on the baggie and store it in the freezer. Show the tick to your veterinarian if your dog appears sick in the months following the removal.

Dab alcohol or ointment on the site of the tick removal to clean the area of bacteria. This will not kill any diseases that the tick may be carrying, but it will reduce the number of microorganisms surrounding the wound.