Cookiebaker, I have the same reaction as you when I find ticks on Holly. She had a few on her this past summer and I freaked out every time!! One time I was petting her and I thought, "oh, she has a mat or a snarl on hair on her ear and I'd better cut it off before it gets big". Well, I looked closer and it was a TICK! And it was connected pretty good and was really starting to bloat up. I pulled it out and put peroxide where it was connected because it was bleeding a little. Thank goodness she is vaccinated for Lyme disease.