The Family Adventure Guide - Issue 39 -2025 - Magazine - Page 18
Buttercup approved!
If you suspect your dog has picked up ticks in Florida, it’s
important to act quickly and calmly to protect your pet’s health.
Here’s a simple checklist you can follow if you suspect your
dog has ticks in Florida:
Dog Tick Checklist:
✅ Inspect your dog carefully — check ears, collar area, toes, armpits, tail,
and belly.
✅ Feel for small bumps and part the fur to check the skin.
✅ If you find a tick, use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool.
✅ Grasp the tick close to the skin and pull out steadily without twisting.
✅ Clean the bite area with antiseptic and wash your hands.
✅ Place the tick in a sealed container with a little alcohol (for possible vet
identification).
✅ Monitor your dog for signs of illness (fever, lethargy, swollen joints,
loss of appetite).
✅ Contact your vet if you’re unsure, uncomfortable removing ticks, or
notice signs of sickness.
✅ Discuss tick prevention options with your vet (topical treatments, oral
medications, collars).
✅ After walks in grassy or wooded areas, always check your dog again.
✅ Keep your yard tidy — mow grass, remove leaf litter, and avoid
overgrown areas.
THE FAMILY ADVENTURE GUIDE- FLORIDA EDITION
18 | 2025 Issue 39
