Deer tick removal tools

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jacob
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Deer tick removal tools

Post by jacob »

What best/recommended?

Normal fine tipped tweezers?
http://survivaltek.com/?p=20 (a DIY solution involving a straw)
https://www.amazon.com/Pro-tick-Remedy- ... B00161O2MO (a key like this, fork on the outside)
https://www.amazon.com/Tick-Key-Product ... 000R1D3KQ/ (another key, fork in the inside)

Plastic or metal?

m741
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Joined: Tue Jan 18, 2011 3:31 am
Location: Seattle, WA

Re: Deer tick removal tools

Post by m741 »

My outdoor cats used to get a lot of ticks. These things worked amazingly well, just slide them between the tick and the skin and twist. Tweezers are no good, the tick will get torn rather than pull out and squeezing can give you a higher likelihood of infection/lyme disease. I think there are a number of brands that have a similar design.

https://smile.amazon.com/Tick-Twister-R ... B00X7072HY

_JT
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Joined: Wed Jul 27, 2016 2:40 pm

Re: Deer tick removal tools

Post by _JT »

I've removed hundreds of ticks from me and my dog(s), and honestly I've never found anything better than just pinching the tick body between thumb and forefinger solidly and slowly pulling it away from the skin. You get the head, and that's really all that's necessary. I also haven't seen any evidence that squeezing the tick increases transmission rate of Lyme disease, which I was happy to find because it's basically impossible to remove them without putting some pressure on their body.

cmonkey
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Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 11:56 am

Re: Deer tick removal tools

Post by cmonkey »

For ticks, we used to light a match and hold it up to the tick. The tick will detach itself and try to crawl away from the fire and then you can dispose.

I hope it's on your dog and not you!

_JT
Posts: 24
Joined: Wed Jul 27, 2016 2:40 pm

Re: Deer tick removal tools

Post by _JT »

cmonkey wrote:
Sun May 07, 2017 7:27 pm
For ticks, we used to light a match and hold it up to the tick. The tick will detach itself and try to crawl away from the fire and then you can dispose.

I hope it's on your dog and not you!
This method is not recommended, because when the tick detaches voluntarily it regurgitates into the wound, which does increase the risk of disease transmission.

Dragline
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Joined: Wed Aug 24, 2011 1:50 am

Re: Deer tick removal tools

Post by Dragline »

Yup, you can even blow out the match and touch it to the tick and watch him squirm and withdraw. Other remedies included covering them with alum, but that's basically a process of suffocation and astringence.

But really, you just need to make sure you pull out the whole bug, no matter how it comes out. Pull it by the part closest to entry.

P.S.: they may explode rather bloodily if they have been attached for a while. Those are the ones you worry about leaving bits inside your skin. But you'll know if they are flat-bodied and recent or puffed up and dug in.

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