Tick Check

[idnative1948]

Short of keeping them off you, how do you remove them?

Last encounter with them left one with his head embedded right at my belt line. Went to the doc and he had to dig it out.

His advice was not to burn them out or suffocate them, but to take a knife blade and scrape them off. Better to remove a little hide and get them out than end up with an infection.

Anybody else?

 

[mdhunter61]

I was able to hold a lighter close enough to the tick that it let go and started crawling down my leg, and I removed it then. But the tick was still small and hadn't been on me long, not sure if it works so easily when they're bigger.

Bad year for ticks all over, it seems like.

 

[tarheel]

Someone sent me a foolproof method via e-mail some months ago and I saved it, but it's somewhere in over 300 e-mails, so after I get back from the VFW I'll look it up and report. Taking Ma to dinner with the Vets.

 

[Bambistew]

A pair of pointy tweezers, grab near the head and hold constant pressure, they'll let go in 15-20seconds. Don't pull too hard and rip the head off, it will get infected and you'll have to dig it out of a puss ball later.

How I didn't come down with Lyme still amazes me. Used to dig 1-2 off me every time I was in the woods. The worst was picking off over 40, luckily only 2 had locked on.

No ticks up here thankfully!

 

[MattK]

The best way to remove a tick is to pull it off gently, leaving the tick and its mouth parts intact. This can be difficult because some ticks cement their mouth parts into the skin. Every effort should be made to remove this cement if it does not come out with the tick. Applying heat, alcohol, petroleum jelly or fingernail polish to an embedded tick is not effective. The following is the recommended procedure:

Use blunt curved tweezers or a thread.
Grasp the tick as close to the skin surface as possible and pull upward with a steady, even pressure.
Do not twist or jerk the tick because this may cause the mouth parts to detach and remain in the skin.
You should pull firmly enough to lift up the skin.
Hold this tension for 3 to 4 minutes and the tick will back out.
DO NOT squeeze, crush, or puncture the body of the tick because its fluids may contain bacteria.
Immediately dispose of the tick. If you have any concerns, put the tick in a plastic bag and freeze it. If you get sick you can take the dead tick with you when you see your provider.
Immediately wash your hands and the affected area with soap and water.

I hope this helps...these are the instructions I found.

 

[Ben Lamb]

I hope this helps...these are the instructions I found.

works for old girlfriends too.

 

[MattK]

Applying heat, alcohol, petroleum jelly or fingernail polish to an embedded tick is not effective.

These aren't effective in getting rid of old girlfriends either...

 

[Ben Lamb]

It actually sounds like a pretty good Saturday night.

 

[belly-deep]

I bought a small tube of liquid for getting ticks off of my dogs. I can't remember what it is called, but it smells real strong like citrus. Anyway, you just put a drop on the ticks and they back right out. Works really well, actually.

 

[belly-deep]

This might be the stuff, I can't find my bottle...

http://www.lcsupply.com/Tick-Release-1_5-Oz/productinfo/TRS/

 

[tarheel]

OK Native, had to call Oklahoma to get the answer, but here it is; put a small dollop of plain liquid dish soap on the little cuss and with your fingertip in a damp wash cloth just give him some gentle round and round massaging and in a little bit he'll back out. Hope that helps!

 

[Big Slick]

I was always told to grab as close to the head as possible and turn counter clockwise( Righty tighty, Lefty loosy). If the head comes off light a wooden match blow it out and place on the head of the tick and watch it back out in a hurry.

 

[Randy11]

How I didn't come down with Lyme still amazes me. Used to dig 1-2 off me every time I was in the woods. The worst was picking off over 40, luckily only 2 had locked on.

No ticks up here thankfully!

No Lyme disease in MT, for one.

I've pulled 7 or 8 off me this year with this thing- http://www.tickkey.com/

seems to work pretty good.

 

[Goldtip]

What MattK said.

 

[Mudranger1]

I just use a straight pin....put that sucker underneath the tick and pry that puppy right out....SOB!!

 

[idnative1948]

Jab a straight pin under that sucker no matter where it is?? Hmmm.......

I just use a straight pin....put that sucker underneath the tick and pry that puppy right out....SOB!!

 

[mtlion]

No Lyme disease in MT, for one.

True Randy but there are other nasty things you can get from them here like rocky mountain spotted fever and tularemia...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tularemia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Mountain_spotted_fever

Check out the pic of the guys arm in the spotted fever link...How do think it got it's name?

 

[TheTone]

Can't stand the little things, them and rattlesnakes are essentially what puts a stop to my shed hunting every spring.

 

[Bambistew]

True Randy but there are other nasty things you can get from them here like rocky mountain spotted fever and tularemia...

Actually Lyme has been found in every state except Alaska... Spotted fever is nasty chit. I have a few friends that have had it. One of them still has issues related to it almost 5 years later.

 

[Randy11]

True Randy but there are other nasty things you can get from them here like rocky mountain spotted fever and tularemia...

Actually Lyme has been found in every state except Alaska... Spotted fever is nasty chit. I have a few friends that have had it. One of them still has issues related to it almost 5 years later.

Interesting stuff...

http://www.canlyme.com/montanalyme.html

http://natfamilymed.com/lyme-disease/do-we-have-lyme-disease-in-montana/