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How to Remove Ticks From People and Pets Safely
Jul 10, 2026
It’s not your imagination if you think you’re seeing more ticks on your kids, dogs, or cats. More ticks in your yard mean more potential for bites, so you may have to bring out the tweezers more often this year. And it’s a good idea to look into professional tick control if you have wooded areas near your home. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned us that this could be the worst tick season we’ve seen in years. So, to make sure you’re doing it safely, here is a step-by-step guide on tick removal for people, dogs, and cats. Whether the tick has bitten a person or pet, the steps are essentially the same: Clean the tweezers and the bite area Grab the tick close to its head Pull the tick out slowly Disinfect the area around the tick bite Save the tick Consider calling a doctor or vet if the bite area becomes increasingly red, swollen, painful, or infected. Or if you’re unsure how long the tick was attached. Safety first! Your first step is to ensure your tweezers and hands are clean and disinfected before you use them. Use rubbing alcohol on the tweezers and bite area, if possible. But if you don’t have any, soap and water will work. Ticks are obviously very small, so you’ll want to use tweezers with a pointy tip instead of a flat head. Now, position the tweezers as close to the skin as you can, as close to the head as possible. If you grab the tick by the enlarged body instead, you risk cutting the tick in half, which is not ideal. Slowly pull the tick by its head away from the skin, doing your best to avoid twisting or crushing the tick. Pull the tick firmly, but gently. Now that extraction is over, it’s time for disinfection. Once again, disinfect the area with soap and warm water to scrub the area surrounding the bite. Don’t forget to disinfect the tweezers, your hands, and any surface that may have come in contact with the tick. If possible, use rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer as a disinfectant for extra bacteria control. We know it’s gross and counterintuitive, but you will want to save the tick in a plastic bag or sealed container. Even though the tick has been removed, it’s important to have it tested to ensure that you or your pets have not been exposed to any harmful diseases. You will want to bring the tick to your local healthcare provider or veterinarian to test it for tick-borne illnesses. Be sure to make note of the date of the bite and the location where the tick bite likely occurred to help track data. Here are some of the most common mistakes that people make, and some tick removal myths you may have heard: Burning a tick while it is attached can agitate it, causing it to regurgitate its stomach contents directly into your bloodstream. The CDC specifically warns against petroleum jelly, heat, nail polish, and other substances because they may agitate the tick and force infected fluid into the skin. This can cut the tick in half and leave the head embedded in the skin, or cause fluid to leak into the wound. This is too delicate a task to do by hand. You will definitely want to use fine-tipped tweezers for the extraction. Some people believe that you need to remove the whole tick, or you run the risk of tick-borne diseases. That’s not quite true. While you want to do your best to remove the head and entire tick, don’t risk damaging the skin or surrounding area to do so. According to the CDC, the pathogens that cause Lyme disease are transmitted from the tick's gut, which was probably removed. If the head is left behind, your skin will naturally push the remaining parts out over time as the area heals, like a splinter. A rash develops Fever appears Flu-like symptoms occur The bite area becomes increasingly red, swollen, painful, or infected You are unsure how long the tick was attached Your pet acts tired, feverish, or stops eating The bite area looks infected You cannot remove the tick safely Your pet has multiple ticks Keep an eye out for any of these symptoms in pets or children, and hold onto the tick in a small plastic bag or sealed plastic case. Here are some rapid-fire answers about safe tick removal. The safest way to remove a tick is with fine-tipped tweezers, disinfecting them and the area around the tick bite first with rubbing alcohol or soap and water. Pull from as close to the skin as possible, doing your best to remove the whole tick, and pulling straight back without crushing the tick or cutting it in half. Then disinfect the skin/wound, your hands, and the tweezers afterward. Do not try this! You don’t need to use any special products like Vaseline or petroleum jelly. This can actually be dangerous. Simply disinfect the skin, your hands, and the tweezers before and after. For that, use rubbing alcohol or simple soap and water. This is not ideal, but not the end of the world, as long as you remove the abdomen. The pathogens that cause Lyme disease are transmitted from the tick's gut. If the head is left on, your skin will naturally expel it as it heals. Yes! Put it in a baggie or a plastic sealed container. Make note of the date and where the bite took place, to the best of your ability. You may need it to give to your doctor or vet for Lyme disease testing and tracking. Does professional tick control really work? Absolutely! Mosquito Hero has the knowledge, systems, and expertise required to provide exceptional mosquito control services using the latest products and technology. “We’ve been extremely happy with Mosquito Hero. Their team is professional, reliable, and friendly, and we’ve noticed a huge difference in both mosquitoes and ticks around our property since starting their service. It has made spending time outside so much more enjoyable and worry-free. Highly recommend!” - A 5-Star Google review. Don’t wait to see the first tick! If you’ve ever had a problem before, get a free quote today!How to Remove Ticks from People and Pets
Safely Removing Ticks from People and Pets: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Clean the tweezers and the bite area
Step 2: Grab the tick close to its head
Step 3: Pull the tick out slowly
Step 4: Disinfect the area around the tick bite
Step 5: Save the tick
What Not to Do When Removing a Tick
Do not burn the tick
Do not smother it with petroleum jelly or use nail polish (ever)
Do not twist or jerk the tick
Do not crush it with your fingers or squeeze the tick’s body
What if the Tick’s Head Stays in?
When to Call a Doctor or Veterinarian
Call a Doctor If:
Call a Vet If:
FAQs About Tick Removal
What is the safest way to remove a tick?
Can I use Vaseline to remove a tick?
What happens if part of the tick stays in the skin?
Should I save the tick after removing it?
What Is The Best Way To Control Ticks In Your Yard?
