Tick checks during baths
Florida has more tick-borne diseases than most states — Lyme, Ehrlichia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Anaplasmosis are all present. Year-round tick prevention is mandatory; tick checks at every bath are good policy.
Where to check: ears, neck, under collars, between toes, armpits, groin, and the base of the tail. Ticks attach where the skin is thinnest and access to blood is easiest.
What you're feeling for: a small bump that wasn't there before, ranging from sesame-seed size (early-stage tick) to a small grape (engorged tick). Live ticks may have visible legs.
If a tick is found: most Florida groomers will remove it. Use fine-tipped tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, pull straight up steadily. Don't twist — that breaks off the head and increases infection risk. Don't squeeze the body — that can inject more bacteria into the dog.
After removal: clean the bite area with alcohol, save the tick in a baggie (your vet can identify it and test if needed), and watch for signs of disease over the next 4 weeks.
Prevention: monthly oral tick preventative (the same products that prevent fleas usually cover ticks). Avoid tall-grass and wooded areas during peak tick season (April–June, September–November in Florida).