Here's What NOT to Do When You Find a Tick on Your Dog (or Cat)
Here's What NOT to Do When You Find a Tick on Your Dog (or Cat)
Before you panic, Google it, or grab whatever's on the shelf — read this first. It only takes a minute, and it could save you from making the same mistake most pet parents make.
You're checking your dog after a walk and there it is. A tick.
Your heart drops a little. You want to do something — anything — right now.
That instinct is normal. But it's also exactly how most pet parents end up making one of these four mistakes.
Mistake #1: Panicking and Rushing to the Pet Store
The first instinct for most pet parents is to drop everything and drive to the nearest store for "anything that works." But panic-buying rarely means informed-buying — you end up grabbing whatever's closest, not what your pet actually needs going forward. Take a breath first. The tick is already there — what matters now is what you do next, and what you do differently after.
Mistake #2: Reaching for Harsh Chemical Baths
A chemical-heavy bath might feel like "doing something," but it doesn't undo a tick bite, and it can leave your pet's skin dry, irritated, or stripped of its natural oils. If you're ever unsure about using a chemical product on your pet's skin, check with your vet first — every pet reacts differently.
Mistake #3: Panic-Buying an Expensive Treatment
Once the panic sets in, it's easy to spend on the most expensive option on the shelf, assuming a higher price tag means better protection. Price isn't the problem to solve here. The real question is whether the treatment is working before the bite happens — or only after.
Mistake #4: Assuming One Tick Means Just... One Tick
Finding one tick rarely means there's only one. Ticks hide — especially around the face, ears, and paws, the areas pet parents check last (or not at all). A quick glance at the collar isn't a full check. Look closer, especially in the spots that are easy to miss.
Here's the Mistake Behind All the Others
Most traditional flea and tick treatments — the chews and tablets most vets prescribe — only start working after the parasite has already bitten your pet. That's how systemic treatments are designed: reactive, not preventive.
That's not something you did wrong. It's just how those products work. But it does raise a fair question: what if something worked before the bite, not after?
A Layer of Defense, Not a Force Field
SafePaws is a small pendant that clips onto your pet's existing collar — nothing applied to the skin, nothing to swallow, nothing to reapply.
Inside, a sealed capsule slowly releases a natural blend of citronella, peppermint, and chamomile oils — a scent barrier many ticks and fleas instinctively steer clear of.
It's not a guarantee no tick will ever come near — no product can honestly promise that. But it's a layer of defense that works around the clock, not just after something's already happened.
- Clips onto any standard collar — dogs and cats
- Sealed capsule, nothing touches the skin
- Water-resistant through walks, swims, and rain
- Active for up to 12 months
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Every SafePaws Pendant comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If it's not the right fit for your pet, we'll make it right.
Shop the PendantDon't wait for the next tick to make the same mistake twice.