Checking dogs and cats for ticks has become a routine in many households. Is it part of yours?

There is a lot of information out there about the best thing to do if you find a tick lodged onto your pet. We contacted Kimberly May, of the American Veterinary Medical Association, to get the latest information:

¢ First, May recommends checking your animal daily if he goes outside. Just brushing is not enough – you should rub your hands over his body to feel for bumps. If you find a tick, remove it as soon as possible as ticks can carry disease.

¢ To avoid direct contact with the tick yourself, wear disposable gloves, or in a pinch, put a plastic bag over your hand like a mitten. Separate the fur and using tweezers, grab the tick as close to the head as possible and pull.

¢ After you remove it, make sure the tick is dead and dispose of it. You can kill it by putting it in alcohol. Examine the tick site for the next few days, to be sure it doesn’t become swollen or painful. If it does, or if your animal starts acting ill or off a few days later, contact your vet.