5 Best Tick Removal Tools for Dogs (2023 Reviews)

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Not only ticks are disgusting, but they can also infect your dog with tick-borne infections, such as Lyme disease, Canine Anaplasmosis, Tick paralysis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

So, if you happen to find these tiny bloodsuckers embedded in your dog’s skin, you should remove them as soon as you can to prevent them from transmitting undesirable diseases to your pup.

And to safely get rid of those blood-sucking parasites, you will need to use the best tick removal tools for dogs.

Otherwise, you may accidentally rupture the tick’s abdomen and leave their mouthparts behind, meaning infection can still occur.

We’ve reviewed five of the best dog tick removers in this article, and you will also learn how to spot, extract, dispose, and prevent ticks from latching onto your canine.

Here are our top 5 picks for tick remover tools for dogs.

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1. TickCheck Permium Tick Remover Kit

TickCheck Premium Tick Remover Kit

The TickCheck Premium Tick Remover Kit is one of the best on the market, made of high-quality stainless steel, designed to stand up to high-volume daily use and for sterilized or washing for a lifetime of use.

It features a non-slip grip and a forked tip that gives you the ability to remove the embedded ticks entirely without needing to apply clamping or gripping pressure. This kit also includes tweezers with fine curved tips for removing the smallest ticks, along with a leatherette pouch for easy storage.

What’s more, it comes with a tick identification card to help you differentiate the three most common species of ticks in North America with instructions on how to remove them.

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2. O’Tom Tick Twister Tick Remover Set

Tick Twister Tick Remover Set

The O’Tom Tick Twister Tick Remover Set is another popular option that you can consider for pulling out ticks.

This pack comes with two tick twisters, one big and one small, to remove different sizes of ticks from your dog. These devices are made of injected polymer plastic and designed in a shape that will not rupture the tick’s body or leave behind the mouthparts in your dog’s skin to reduce infection risk.

We also like that this dog tick remover tool is easy to use and won’t cause any pain to your furkid.

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3. Original Tick Key for Tick Removal

Original Tick Key for Tick Removal

The Original Tick Key for Tick Removal is a compact and portable dog tick remover, with a small little hole that allows you to attach it to your keychain or even your dog’s leash.

Unlike how tweezers work, you will have to slip it over the tick and gently pull it across the skin to drag the pesky critter out. It is made of high-strength anodized aluminum, with its tear-shaped slot, giving you the ability to slide the tick off your dog’s skin with just one move.

This tick removal tool for dogs works better on large-sized ticks and is available in a wide variety of metallic colors.

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4. TickEase Tick Remover Dual Tipped Tweezers

TickEase Tick Remover Dual Tipped Tweezers

Unlike most dog tick remover sets, which usually come with two different tools, the TickEase Tick Remover Dual Tipped Tweezers combine both into one.

It is a dual-sided tick remover device that complies with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations. With fine pointy tips on one end designed explicitly for nymphs and smaller ticks like deer ticks, and a v-shaped slotted scoop on the opposite end for large engorged ticks.

This tick removing tool is made of 100% stainless steel and is also suitable to be used for extracting ticks from humans.

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5. Tick Tornado ZenPet Tick Remover

Tick Tornado ZenPet Tick Remover

Developed by a veterinarian, you can rest assured that the Tick Tornado ZenPet Tick Remover is safe and reliable.

This pack comes with a small and a large tick removal tool, capable of extracting ticks of all stages and all engorgement levels while keeping their head and mouth intact. Ultimately reducing the risk of infections and illnesses such as Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Additionally, it has a hole on the end of the handle, meaning you can add it to your keychain and keep it safe in your pocket.

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Dog Tick

How to Spot Ticks on Your Dog?

Ticks are usually big enough to find. However, ticks also come in a pinhead size, which requires you to take a closer look to spot them. Scanning your dog with your eyes may not be the most effective way as you could easily miss those pesky parasites.

One of the best ways to check your dog for ticks is by running your hands over your canine’s body. Or you could also do the same with a comb, and you should be able to feel a small bump if your dog has ticks. Make sure to not force the comb over the lump as you don’t want to pull the tick apart and cause them to spread nasty diseases to your fido.

Also, ticks tend to hide in dark and moist areas. So you would want to pay special attention to areas under your dog’s collar, tail, legs, elbows, around the groin, between toes, on their face, and inside their ears. You would also want to check your furkid’s skin for areas that appear red as that could be a sign that a tick has attached itself to that spot.

Why Should You Use a Dog Tick Removal Tool?

Ticks are pretty much everywhere. Outdoors, wooded and grassy areas, rotting wood, old furniture, and whatnot. They can easily climb onto your dog, especially if they are in tall grass and brush, and tick bites are very harmful. They can pass on diseases that they carry to your dog within 3 to 24 hours, and some of the most common tick-borne illnesses include:

  • Lyme Disease
  • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
  • Tick Paralysis
  • Anaplasmosis
  • Babesiosis
  • Ehrlichiosis
  • Tularemia (Rabbit Fever)

Some of these diseases can be fatal, so it is crucial to pull the tick out from your pup as soon as you see one. That’s the reason why you should be buying a dog tick remover tool. It is lightweight and portable, allowing you to keep it in your pocket or attach it to a carabiner and clip it onto your dog’s saddle bag or your backpack when going outside or go hiking with your dog, meaning you will be able to act in time.

Also, dog tick remover tools are specially designed for lifting ticks out from your dog’s skin without squeezing them, and as a result, preventing the disease-infected fluid from flowing into your dog’s bloodstream. Not only that, but using these devices to get rid of ticks can also keep the tick’s head and mouth intact, ultimately minimizing the risk of infection.

The Common Ways of Removing a Tick That Won’t Work!

You may have heard of many different ways to remove a tick from your dog without using a tick removal tool. Here are some of the popular ones:

  1. Suffocate it with petroleum jelly or nail polish.
  2. Sprinkle peppermint oil on it.
  3. Burn it with a glowing match.
  4. Pour rubbing alcohol on it.
  5. Remove it with your fingers.

And believe it or not, all these techniques won’t work and will make the situation worse, which will increase the chances of the tick passing on the infectious agents called pathogens to your dog or yourself.

How to Remove a Tick Using a Dog Tick Remover Tool?

Safely removing ticks from your dog using a tick removal tool isn’t too hard. These devices work differently depending on the brand that you buy. So, make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. But in general, here is how you do it:

  1. Put on latex gloves to protect yourself from diseases that the tick may carry.
  2. You may also need a magnifying glass for small ticks.
  3. Part your dog’s fur and pull it tight to get a good view of the tick.
  4. Place the tick removal tool around the tick’s body and ensure the tick has reached the smallest part of the V-shaped notch.
  5. Pull the tick out with gentle, steady, and even pressure without squeezing it.
  6. Put the tick in a resealable bag or a lidded jar for testing if you suspect that the tick contains Lyme’s disease pathogens.
  7. Disinfect the entire bite area with antiseptic wipes once you are done and wash your hands thoroughly.

Monitor your pup for the signs of illness for a few days after removing the tick. If you see the bite areas appear red, swollen, or if your fido is feeling weak or has a loss of appetite, visit your vet immediately.

How to Dispose of a Tick?

After you remove the tick, there are a few different methods you can dispose of it:

  1. Soak it in rubbing alcohol.
  2. Put it in a resealable bag and throw it away.
  3. Put it in a lidded jar and bring it to your vet for testing.
  4. Flush it down the toilet.

Regardless of how you dispose of the tick, make sure you don’t pop it as it may carry pathogens.

Tick on Dog

How to Prevent Your Dog From Getting Ticks?

There are several things you can do to keep ticks from crawling onto your dog’s skin and feed themselves blood meals.

Tick Collars

Dog tick and flea collars contain active ingredients that can keep unwanted little buggers away from your canine. And you will find two different types on the market, natural and chemical. The former is safer for dogs, but it will be less effective. The latter, on the other hand, is more powerful. The downside of it is that it may cause side effects.

Medicated Shampoos

Another way to prevent tick infestations on your dog is by bathing them with medicated shampoos. And these shampoos usually offer an immediate kill of the ticks. One thing to note, though, many of these products have age restrictions and may not be suitable for your furkid. So, make sure to read the label before you purchase.

Spot-on flea and tick treatments

Spot-on flea and tick treatments contain concentrated chemicals that need to be applied from your dog’s shoulder blades to the base of their tail to take effect. These treatments can typically last for up to a month or two and are very effective at killing ticks and prevent re-infestation.

Dietary Supplement

Apple cider vinegar and garlic are known to be able to repel ticks. Adding them to your dog’s food or water will make your furry friend less appealing to ticks and naturally keep those unwanted pests at bay.

Dog-Friendly Tick Sprays for Yards

Lastly, you can also tick-proof your yard with tick sprays. These sprays can help lessen the population of fleas and ticks, ultimately reducing the chances of those pesky parasites from crawling onto your dog. However, make sure to select the one that utilizes natural active ingredients and contains no harsh chemicals to ensure that the sprayed areas are safe for your pup to play.

Best Dog Tick Remover Tools FAQ

Are tick removal tools safe around my pets?

Yes, tick removal tools are a unique tool designed to remove ticks from your dog, and most are approved by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). They are safe and can help prevent the spread of infections if used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

How do I get a tick off my dog without using a tick removal tool?

If you don’t have a dog tick remover at hand, you can try using a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol to make the tick to disengage from the skin. However, keep in mind that there’s a chance that alcohol may not be enough to force the tick to back out, or you might break the tick’s head or mouthparts.