How Do I Get Rid of Ticks on My Dog?
If you are proactive with monthly, year-round protection of either NexGard® PLUS (afoxolaner, moxidectin, and pyrantel chewable tablets) or NexGard (afoxolaner), you can help minimize the risk of ticks on your dog.
If you do find a tick on your dog, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, then pulling upward with steady, even pressure without twisting or jerking. After removing the tick, clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.1 Your vet can also provide advice for removing ticks.
What to Know About Ticks and Dogs
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How Do I Know if My Dog Has Ticks?
When looking for ticks, you may feel or spot ticks on your dog’s body underneath their fur. When it first attaches, an adult tick will look like a tiny round bug with 8 legs. After feeding for a few days, it will swell up to look bloated and bluish-gray, and eventually detach. If that tick has already detached, you may notice a small bump or inflamed area at the site of the bite.
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How Big Do Ticks Get on Dogs?
Initially, ticks are small and difficult to spot, but that changes after they’ve fed. Ticks attach and feed over a period of several days. The amount a tick grows depends on the tick’s species and sex. As it becomes engorged, the size of a female tick can increase 100x her pre-feeding body weight.2
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Where Are Ticks Found on Dogs?
It’s important to thoroughly search your dog for ticks on a regular basis, especially after they’ve spent time outside. Ticks can be anywhere on the body, but they prefer warm, dark, and inconspicuous hiding places. When searching for ticks on your dog, pay special attention to between the toes, inside the ears, under the legs, and around the groin area.3
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When Are Ticks Most Active?
Different species of ticks are more active during different times of the year, but they can prey on hosts all year long.4 That’s why it’s crucial to keep your dog on monthly, year-round tick protection such as NexGard PLUS chews or NexGard chews.
- How to Remove a Tick From Your Dog. American Kennel Club. Accessed April 6 2025. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/how-to-remove-tick-from-dog/
- Dryden MW, Payne PA. Biology and control of ticks infesting dogs and cats in North America. Vet Ther. 2004 Summer;5(2):139-54.
- How to check your pets for ticks. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed April 6, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-pets/media/pdfs/publications/check-pets-for-ticks-508.pdf
- Ticks. Companion Animal Parasite Council. Accessed April 6, 2025. https://capcvet.org/guidelines/ticks
Important Safety Information
NexGard® PLUS (afoxolaner, moxidectin, and pyrantel chewable tablets) is safe for puppies at 8 weeks, weighing 4 pounds or more. The most frequently reported adverse reactions include diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, and itching. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. Dogs should be tested for existing heartworm infection prior to starting a preventive. For more information, click here for full prescribing information.
NexGard® COMBO (esafoxolaner, eprinomectin, and praziquantel topical solution) is for topical use only in cats. Safe for use in cats and kittens 8 weeks of age or older, weighing 1.8 pounds or more. Use with caution in cats with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. The most frequently reported adverse reactions include vomiting, application site reactions, lethargy, and anorexia. If ingested, hypersalivation may occur. Avoid direct contact with application site until visibly dry. For more information, click here for full prescribing information.
NexGard® (afoxolaner) is for use in dogs only. Safe for use in puppies 8 weeks of age or older, weighing 4 pounds or more. The most frequently reported adverse reactions include vomiting, itching, lethargy, diarrhea, and lack of appetite. The safe use of NexGard in pregnant, breeding, or lactating dogs has not been evaluated. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. For more information, click here for full prescribing information.