Defend against tick-borne diseases by checking for ticks — and removing them immediately — whenever pets are outdoors.

Here are some safety tips:

• Wear gloves and use fine-pointed tweezers.



• Grab close to the skin and pull straight back, gently. Don't squeeze or twist the tick. That could release more bacteria.



• Don't cover the tick with petroleum jelly or mineral oil because ticks can store oxygen and keep feeding.



• Put the tick in a sealed container or small plastic bag in the trash. Do not crush it because tick-borne pathogens can sometimes be inhaled. Don't flush live ticks because they can survive in water.



• Clean the wound with soap, water and an alcohol swab.

The tick's mouth may remain attached to your pet and need to be removed by a veterinarian. Don't try burning off the tick or its parts. "That will cause a lot more damage than the tick bite itself," said veterinarian Stephen Young.