Remove ticks from your dog

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You'll notice a tick on your dog because it's a tiny black, brown, reddish or tan insect about the size of the head of a pin. Once it's on your dog, it may swell up to the size of a grape.

It's nice if two people can do this. One to hold the dog steady and one to remove the tick.

Sterilize a pair of tweezers, the tick and your dog's surrounding skin with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.

Wait about 10-minutes for the sterilization to kick in on all of them.

Use the tweezers to grab the tick and rotate it slowly at least three times to loosen the tick's grip.

DO NOT pull straight back as you don't want to leave his ugly little head in your poor dog.

When the tick's body and head are loose, place it on a tissue and flush it down the toilet.

DO NOT squeeze it to death because it may release disease-carrying fluids.

Apply antiseptic ointment or wash with soap and water to the area on your dog where the tick had been.

Sterile the tweezers again and wash your hands thoroughly.

Watch your dog for a couple days to ensure he didn't get an infection from the tick. If he suffers swollen joints that make him lame, has a fever or isn't eating, see a vet right away.

P.S. Studies show that using petroleum jelly, mineral oil, soap water, alcohol and hot match heads do not work to loosen ticks from skin. A hot match can harm your dog.