A client calls her veterinarian because she has found a tick on her dog and she is not sure how to remove it. Which of the following is the most appropriate instruction for tick removal?

The client should immediately remove the tick by grasping it with tweezers close to the dog’s skin and then pulling it steadily upwards.
The client should immediately remove the tick by grasping it with tweezers and twisting it to detach its mouthparts.
The client should immediately remove the tick by holding a hot match close to the tick, causing it to back out and safely extract its mouthparts.
The client should schedule an appointment to have the ticks safely removed by a trained staff member.

Overview of Flies

By

Charles M. Hendrix

, DVM, PhD, Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University

Last full review/revision Aug 2013 | Content last modified Aug 2013

Flies belong to the order Diptera, a large, complex order of insects. Most members of this order have two wings (one pair) as adults. However, there are a few wingless dipterans. Dipterans vary greatly in size, food source preference, and in the developmental stage that parasitizes the animal or produces pathology. As adults, dipterans may intermittently feed on vertebrate blood or on saliva, tears, or mucus. These dipterans are referred to as periodic parasites and may serve as intermediate hosts for helminth parasites or for protozoan parasites. They may also alternately feed both on feces and on food and may possibly serve as vectors for bacteria, viruses, spirochetes, chlamydiae, etc. As larvae (maggots), dipterans may develop in the subcutaneous tissues of the skin, respiratory passages, or GI tract of vertebrate hosts and produce a condition known as myiasis.

Flea Allergy Dermatitis

Was This Page Helpful?

Dipterans with Biting Mouthparts

Overview of Anthrax

Overview of Cryptosporidiosis

Overview of Enteric Campylobacteriosis

Follow

Add to Any Platform

Merck and the Merck Veterinary Manual

Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. From developing new therapies that treat and prevent disease to helping people in need, we are committed to improving health and well-being around the world. The Merck Veterinary Manual was first published in 1955 as a service to the community. The legacy of this great resource continues as the Merck Veterinary Manual in the US and Canada and the MSD Manual outside of North America.