Avoid Ticks While Hiking With Pets

Summary

Safety first

• Stop and check everyone for ticks if you feel something crawling.
• Do not use flammable substances or heat to remove ticks—use tweezers only.
• If anyone experiences rash, fever, or flu-like symptoms in the following days, contact a doctor.
• Keep dogs on leash to prevent running through dense brush.
• If you find a large number of ticks or if a tick cannot be fully removed, stop and seek professional help.

Tools you’ll need

• Fine-tooth tick comb
• Tweezers
• Lint roller
• Plastic bags (for tick disposal)
• Flashlight or headlamp (for full-body checks)

Materials

• Pet-safe tick repellent
• DEET or picaridin spray
• Permethrin-treated clothing (for humans)
• Long-sleeved shirts and pants
• Light-colored clothing
• Gaiters or high socks

Step-by-step

• Dress in light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and pants.
• Apply tick repellent (DEET or picaridin) to exposed skin and permethrin spray to clothing.
• Apply a pet-safe tick preventative to your dog before the hike.
• Keep to the center of the trail and avoid brushing against tall grass or shrubs.
• Do frequent tick checks on family members and pets during rest stops—especially around ears, underarms, and waistbands.
• Use a lint roller on clothing and a fine-tooth comb on your dog at the trailhead and after the hike.
• After returning home, perform thorough tick checks on everyone, including your dog, using a flashlight for hard-to-see areas.
• Remove any ticks immediately with fine-tipped tweezers and dispose of them in a plastic bag.

Troubleshooting

• If you find a tick embedded, grasp it with tweezers as close to the skin as possible and pull straight out.
• If the tick’s head remains, clean the area and monitor for infection.
• If your pet resists checks, provide treats and try when calm.
• Missed a spot during checks? Re-inspect within two hours after returning.
• Find multiple ticks after prevention? Reassess repellent use and stick closer to the center of the trail next time.

Common mistakes

• Wearing shorts or short sleeves in overgrown areas.
• Not applying tick repellent or using a product not labeled for ticks.
• Letting pets roam off-trail without checking them frequently.
• Assuming ticks only climb onto feet or ankles—ticks can attach anywhere.
• Forgetting to check hidden or hard-to-see areas on the body and on pets.

When to call a pro

• If a tick cannot be safely or fully removed.
• If you or your pet develop persistent redness, swelling, or illness after a tick bite.
• If your pet is overdue on flea/tick medication or shows unusual symptoms.
• If you find an infestation (multiple ticks) on your pet or in your home.

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