Correctly Removing ticks?

F

fingerz42

New member
An earlier post mentioned ticks. I dont have to much of a problem with them, but in the case of getting one imbedded in my skin what is the correct way to remove them?
 
My place is infested with them. If they are in good make sure you get the head out. Tweezers work good. I apply alcohol to the spot.
 
Usually I take a large sewing needle, and heat it with a lighter until it is red hot. I then have the tick leaning back so the underside is exposed (stomach area), then I simply hold the needle on the stomach for a minute or two. Next, with tweezers I gently pull at it as close to the head as I can, while still holding the hot needle on the stomach .
I've taken many off myself and my dogs in this area, and that seems to work the best for me. Kind of complicated process but most of the time it gets the head with it. You really want to get the head to prevent infection.
 
I will take the cap off the alcohol bottle. Fill it up and hold it on the tick until it gives up. It will release and will not leave anything in you.
 
Quote:
Usually I take a large sewing needle, and heat it with a lighter until it is red hot. I then have the tick leaning back so the underside is exposed (stomach area), then I simply hold the needle on the stomach for a minute or two. Next, with tweezers I gently pull at it as close to the head as I can, while still holding the hot needle on the stomach .
I've taken many off myself and my dogs in this area, and that seems to work the best for me. Kind of complicated process but most of the time it gets the head with it. You really want to get the head to prevent infection.



yep thats what i do
 
Quote:
I will take the cap off the alcohol bottle. Fill it up and hold it on the tick until it gives up. It will release and will not leave anything in you.



Talk with your Doctor before doing this again. Your M.D. might advise against this dangerous practice. If that little critter has any harmful bacteria or pathogens in its gut then it will likely get regurgitated into your bloodstream and likely infect you with lets say lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever or Babeosis.

Many times you can prevent transmission of any of the above by careful tick checks and prompt removal. Ticks take several hours to regurgitate so if caught early you prevented alot of problems. Also if you remove the tick without smoothering in an irritant to the tick (alcohol, petroleum jelly, etc), keep it intact and do not squish, squash or dismember it you can have it tested to know if you need to start an antibiotic treatment.

Caught early most tick born diseases are less severe than the debilitating conditions that set in after the disease runs thru you. Ticks can stop you leave you debilitated and stop you from hunting.
 
Thunderstruck,
We tried this once with a tick that had already bore itself into my skin and it didn't let go after lying there for 35 minutes so my grandpa burned it out with a cigerette(ouch)don't recomend that. He is one of those old school guys that believes the old school ways are the best.
 
I do mine with a match. Let it burn a little, blow it out and stick it on the ticks rearend for a split second. Make sure ya don't fry him. Might take a few times, but he usually doesn't like it, and backs out. Basically like Moes suggestion. As others have said, ya wanna make sure ya get the head out. One time when I was younger I had like 7 of them suckers stuck in my head.
 
I have sprayed with Flea/Tick insecticide. Not the repellent. In a few minutes they drop off. I then disinfect the bite.
 
My Grandma always put vegetable oil on it, they breath through their backs, (I was told)

with the oil on their backs, they can't breath and they back out...

Don't know if it is true, but it works.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
I've been told to be very careful with the "smothering technique" because of the regergitation issue!!! Gently pull, I have seen a tick removal tool before. It is about the size of a quarter with a slot in it don't know if it works or not.
 
I have always just yanked em out. But I found that the easiest way to do it is to drown them in rubbing alcohol. The just back out. It doesn't take but a minute and you don't have to worry about burning yourself or leaving their head in your skin. Painless and you don't have an itchy spot after.
 
Do NOT use a match or caustic materials to try to smother the tick or get the tick to 'back out'. This doesn't work, and may be causing the tick to regurgitate more saliva (and potential pathogens) into the skin.

Got the above statement from a tick site on how to remove one. It says use tweezers and grab near head and hold steady pressure pulling back til he lets go. I really don't know what to believe now. I know I remember using tweezers about 25 yrs ago on our little dog and I must have held that sucker seemed like hours but probably only 2 min. anyway he broke in half and the head was still in so I had to take him to vets anyway to get that out. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif
 
I read that pulling them or burning them can cause fluid to go into you from the tick. They recomended to use dish soap straight from the bottle to suffocate it.T.20
 
Thanks for the info GeorgiaJoe, I was always curious about that myself. I have been lucky and gotten them before they got me. But as much as I hunt and last year I started hunting in this swampy Island on the Hudson that is loaded with deer and ticks. It is inevitable. Thanks again.
 
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