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Ticks on Dogs in the UK: How to Remove Them and Prevent Bites

Ticks are an increasingly significant health concern for UK dogs — and increasingly for their owners too. Understanding which ticks are present in the UK, how to remove them safely, and how to prevent bites effectively is essential knowledge for anyone who walks their dog in the countryside.

Ticks in the UK: What You Need to Know

The UK has several tick species, the most common being Ixodes ricinus (the sheep tick or castor bean tick), found throughout the British Isles in woodland, grassland, moorland, and heathland. Ixodes hexagonus (the hedgehog tick) is also frequently encountered on dogs. Less commonly, Dermacentor reticulatus (the ornate cow tick) is found in certain regions of Wales and southern England and has been expanding its range in recent years.

Ticks are not insects — they are arachnids, related to spiders and mites. Adult ticks typically quest (wait for a host) on vegetation at heights up to about a metre, attaching themselves when an animal or person brushes past. They then seek a site to attach and feed — typically around the head, ears, neck, armpits, groin, and between the toes on dogs.

I. ricinus is the primary vector of Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) in the UK, as well as anaplasmosis and other less common tick-borne infections. Public Health England estimates around 2,000–3,000 cases of human Lyme disease are diagnosed annually in the UK, with the true number believed to be higher due to under-reporting. Canine Lyme disease presents with lameness, fever, and potentially kidney disease.

How to Remove a Tick Safely

Safe tick removal is critical — incorrect technique can increase the risk of disease transmission. The most important principle is to remove the tick as quickly as possible, whole, without squeezing, crushing, or applying chemicals. The RCVS and the PDSA both recommend using a purpose-made tick remover tool — either a V-shaped notch remover or a twisting hook remover (such as the O'Tom Tick Twister). These are widely available from vets, pet shops, and pharmacies for under £5.

To remove a tick: part the fur to expose the tick clearly, place the remover tool as close to the skin surface as possible, and use a slow twisting or lever motion to detach the tick. Do not twist with fingers or tweezers, as this risks leaving mouthparts embedded in the skin. Never apply Vaseline, nail polish, heat, or other substances to the tick before removal — these stress the tick and may cause it to regurgitate stomach contents into the bite wound, increasing disease transmission risk.

After removal, dispose of the tick by placing it in a sealed bag or container, or flushing down the toilet. Do not crush it between fingers. Clean the bite site with antiseptic and wash your hands thoroughly. Monitor the bite site for signs of reaction — redness, swelling, or a rash — and monitor your dog for signs of illness over the following weeks.

Signs of Tick-Borne Disease in Dogs

Lyme disease in dogs typically presents 2–5 months after a tick bite, not immediately. Signs include shifting lameness (which may seem to move between legs), fever, lethargy, swollen lymph nodes, and loss of appetite. In some dogs, Lyme nephritis — a severe form of kidney disease caused by immune complex deposition — can occur, which is potentially fatal.

Anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum) causes fever, lethargy, lameness, and low platelet counts within 1–2 weeks of infection. Babesiosis, caused by Babesia species and transmitted by Dermacentor reticulatus, is less common in the UK but causes severe haemolytic anaemia and is potentially life-threatening.

If your dog develops unexplained lameness, fever, or lethargy in the weeks following a walk in tick habitat, inform your vet that tick exposure is a possibility — this allows them to include tick-borne disease in their differential diagnosis. Diagnosis is by blood test. Early treatment with appropriate antibiotics (typically doxycycline for Lyme disease) is significantly more effective than late-stage treatment.

Tick Prevention Products and Methods

Prescription tick prevention products are the most reliable means of protecting your dog. Prescription spot-on treatments (such as Bravecto, Credelio, or NexGard) and collars (such as Seresto) provide either repellent or rapid tick-killing action, preventing attachment or killing ticks quickly after attachment before disease can be transmitted.

Spot-on treatments from your vet are generally more reliable than over-the-counter alternatives, and your vet can advise on which products are most appropriate for your dog's size, lifestyle, and local tick risk. Regular prescription is now facilitated by the CMA's written prescription reforms — you can obtain a prescription from your vet and purchase the product online if it's more cost-effective.

Beyond pharmacological prevention, simple practical measures help reduce tick burden. Keep dogs to paths where possible in high-risk habitat; run a fine-toothed comb through their coat after every walk in woodland, moorland, or long grass; check their body carefully — paying particular attention to ears, armpits, groin, and between the toes — after every countryside walk.

Tick activity peaks in spring (April–June) and autumn (August–November) in the UK, but with climate change, active periods are extending. Year-round prevention is recommended for dogs with significant outdoor exposure.

Vet Advice and CompareMyVet

Your vet is the best source of advice on which tick prevention products are most appropriate for your dog, based on their health status, lifestyle, and the specific tick species in your area. A brief consultation — standard fee £40–£65 — is worthwhile at the start of the tick season to review your prevention programme.

CompareMyVet at app.comparemyvet.uk lets you compare vet consultation and prescription prices in your area. With written prescriptions now available for all prescribed medications under CMA reforms, you can obtain prevention products at the most competitive prices.

With tick-borne disease becoming more prevalent across the UK, prevention is genuinely one of the most cost-effective investments you can make in your dog's health.