How to Safely Remove Ticks from Your Pets

Tick (Ixodes ricinus) female engorged after a blood meal, northeast Oregon

Ticks are generally picked up by your pet when it rubs up against brush, shrubs or undergrowth.

Most often, ticks will set up shop on a dog's neck, in its ears, between its legs and body, and between its toes. On cats, they're usually found on the neck or face. Besides causing irritation and anemia, they can also spread diseases, such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever to both pet and people [source: Lakewood Animal Hospital].

Here's how to remove ticks from your pet: