How do I prevent ticks, and what do I do if my dog gets bitten?

Quick answer

During spring through fall, when walks through grassy areas are more frequent, apply flea/tick prevention (topical or oral) every month without fail. If you find a tick on your dog's body, don't pull it off by hand — the head or mouthparts can stay embedded in the skin and cause inflammation. Use tweezers to grip as close to the tick's head as possible and pull straight out slowly. If you're not confident, it's safer to have it removed at the vet.