Q: What’s the best way to remove a tick embedded in my dog Floyd’s skin? I tried covering the tick with alcohol, nail polish, and petroleum jelly, but nothing loosened its grip. I’ve heard that touching a lit match to the tick works, but I’m afraid I’ll burn Floyd. What do you recommend? A: None of these techniques is effective. They just irritate the tick, making it regurgitate its gut contents—including any harmful bacteria—into the dog. And a lit match can produce an even worse outcome. So, let me offer a few safer and more effective alternatives. My favorite way to remove a tick is to use a tick puller. Popular brands are Ticked Off, a small spoon with a V-shaped notch in front, and Tick Twister, which looks like a tiny fork. Simply slide the tick puller under the tick, and lift it from the skin. Or, you can …