Tick scoop vs. tweezers

[WritinginCT]

I've used tick scoops such as these (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/www.tickedoff.com) for years- both on my dogs and myself. They are small and simple to use. And I've never had tick mouth parts left behind when I use it.

I had automatically included one on my gear list (especially since I am hiking with my dog). But I'm wondering- I've only seen tweezers mentioned here for removing of ticks. Is there a specific reasoning behind that?

Is it because tweezers are multi-use maybe?

[mountain squid]

All I used were the tweezers that were with my Swiss Army Knife. They worked fine for me and I didn't have to carry anything extra.

See you on the trail,
mt squid

[Blissful]

The link didn't work for me. ?

[canoehead]

tweezers work great for a number of things I agree with Mountain Squid

[WritinginCT]

that's weird- for some reason it's not correct

here's the link directly www.tickedoff.com

[SouthMark]

I use a tick remover similar to the one in the link. The disadvantage of tweezers is that there is a chance of squeezing fluid from the tick into the bite.

[Gaiter]

multi-use, plus its what i'm used to for removing ticks

[Don H]

Deer ticks are so small and I have seen them bury themselves below the skin surface. The only way to remove them is with a very sharp pair of tweezers. I had one on me last year that was buried so deep I had to cut a chunk of skin off to get the tick off without squeezing it.

[sasquatch2014]

I have a oil called tick release its basically orange oil a few drops on the tick and it starts to back out then I use sharp tweezers to pull it off. work awesome

[Wise Old Owl]

TO better answer your question, most lists are from some time ago and are updated by individuals to their preferences. A tick scoop is a good idea and doesn't weigh anything, although I have never needed one. (deet user) Tweezers were for removing painful splinters in the old days when cutting wood for fires was important, then it had little to do with getting ticks off. The Swiss Army knife posted earlier was a good answer. Having read your post/question has changed my thinking as there are some nasty bugs spread by bites. Might be handy for the dog too.

[WritinginCT]

sasquatch2014- I never heard of that oil before- cool stuff!

Owl- the scoops work SO awesome on dogs. (especially my bouncing boxers that really hate sitting still to be picked at). It's quick and painless. You can pick them up at just about any pet store and I think Walmart has them in the pet department too.

My dogs pick up ticks even with K9-Advantix on them. (Never had a flea though and it keeps the mossies away too!)

I'm all for multi-use but I think for the weight of this I'll keep it in the gear list (it probably weighs less than a McDonalds spoon for comparison).

[Desert Reprobate]

Multi Use: Use it instead of a McDonald's Spoon

[Don H]

Here's a link to the Lyme Disease Associations website:
http://www.lymediseaseassociation.org/index.html

and a link to a page with some basic information: http://www.lymediseaseassociation.org/Tickmark.pdf

Some recommend putting something on the tick to make it back out. This will cause the tick to inject it's stomach contents into you which is where the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease comes from. You must remove the tick by grasping it by its mouth parts and pulling it out. If you pick at it, try dig it out or otherwise disturb it it could inject its stomach contents and then you could be exposed. This is why I have actually removed a small piece of skin along with the tick if it is buried too deep. Of course prevention is always best. Deet and Permethrin work well if you don't mind the chemicals. Tucking pants into your socks and staying out of high grass and brush and keeping on trails helps too. If you plan to hike please do some research and be safe, practice prevention and know the symptoms.

[Don H]

Of course the above post refers to deer ticks, those little buggers that are hard to see and harder to remove. Still I would not use any method that makes the tick back out on any kind of tick. Dog ticks can carry some nasty diseases too.
See this site: http://www.turnthecorner.org/tick-borne-disorders.htm

[sasquatch2014]

This is designed specifically for ticks so while I know that burning them etc will cause them to inject the same does not seem to hold true for the orange oil. I have used it many times with no lymes results.

[Wise Old Owl]

sasquatch2014- I never heard of that oil before- cool stuff!

Owl- the scoops work SO awesome on dogs. (especially my bouncing boxers that really hate sitting still to be picked at). It's quick and painless. You can pick them up at just about any pet store and I think Walmart has them in the pet department too.

My dogs pick up ticks even with K9-Advantix on them. (Never had a flea though and it keeps the mossies away too!)

I'm all for multi-use but I think for the weight of this I'll keep it in the gear list (it probably weighs less than a McDonalds spoon for comparison).


We can't see fleas per say, I have seen a flying ball of eggs hatch. The K9 allows them to hop on as soon as they bite its like getting a cocaine dose all at once, The medicine overwhelms their nerves and they get so excited they die. The Ticks take a little longer. I noticed Deep Woods OFF as a light spray around the back of the dog (and he doesn't mind) adds a extra layer of protection and I don't see midges & ticks come around at all.

[Don H]

I believe that anything that irritates the tick makes it empty it's stomach contents in addition to its normal feeding routine.

From:
http://generalmedicine.suite101.com/article.cfm/lyme_disease_transmission

"Blood is composed of only 40% blood cells, and those are about 90% water. Thus, about 95% of what the tick removes from the host has no nutritive value for the tick. In order to prevent itself from exploding from excess water, the tick removes nutrients and proteins (albumin and hemoglobin) from the blood and vomits the liquid back into the host: repeatedly sucking fresh blood, removing the nutrients, and spitting the liquid back.

If the tick is infected, the bacteria are injected while the tick is regurgitating. This usually does not happen until the tick has become engorged with blood – about 36 hours or more after attaching, but some have contracted LD from ticks that were imbedded less than 10 hours without becoming engorged. Removing a non-swollen tick usually means the person will probably not be infected unless the tick is squeezed or caused to regurgitate before releasing its bite, but a doctor should always be informed about tick bites."

[Wise Old Owl]

Hey Don, I really did not need to know that.:-?

[Don H]

Makes you want to take a bath in Deet don't it! When I head out for a hike I wear long pants and shirt that have been treated with Permethrin (effective for 6 weeks) and spray Deet on my socks and shoes. Deer ticks are very prevalent here in Maryland from April to November. If wearing shorts I also spray my legs with Deet. I live near a very large Scout camp where I do a lot of day hikes. This place was known for deer ticks and boys getting Lymes during summer camp. There were just too many deer in the camp which are a main host to the deer tick. I've yet to find a deer tick on me with this level of protection. I hope that everyone here on WB take the time to learn about Lymes and do everything you can to avoid it.

[xnav]

I work outside as a land surveying party chief and deal with ticks from March thru October in Georgia. I work in the brush a lot and have been bitten hundreds of times. We use deet and Permethrin for prevention but due to our daily exposure it only limited our encounters, it does not prevent them. Luckily I have never had to deal with Lymes, but my company paid for a Lymes vaccination several years ago. I usually just pull them off with my fingers and then start scratching in about 2 days. The area on my skin is affected usually for about 2 weeks. I have never tried this technique, but last year my company posted a new method for removing ticks. Just cover them in a layer of soap and the tick will back out on its own. I would try it but I don't have the patience to watch a tick.

[Don H]

XNAV,
If you had the LYMErix vaccine, which was taken off the market in 2002, then its effectiveness has been reduced greatly by now. I had the series of three shots in '99 / '00 and I doubt that it has any lasting effects by now.
Here's a site http://www.lymeinfo.net/vaccine2.html that has information on the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of the vaccine.

[mudhead]

Hey Don, I really did not need to know that.:-?

Tick barf made me almost glad it is cold out.

Good info posted. Might be a good spot in the Lyme thread.

[Blue Sky II]

xnav,
In a newsletter of the Keystone Trails Association (Pennsylvania) in 2006 was an article saying to do the same thing. According to the artilcle that was taken from another clubs newsletter:
Put liquid soap on a cotton ball and then swab the tick untill it
releases into the cotton ball. I believe it said that 20 seconds will
do.
I'm still waiting to try it out.
Blue Sky II

[Don H]

You can do what you want but I'll go with what the experts recommend.

From the CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/Lyme/ld_tickremoval.htm
"Avoid crushing the tick’s body. Don’t use petroleum jelly, a hot match, nail polish, or other products to remove a tick."

From the Lyme Disease Foundation: http://www.lyme.org/ticks/removal.html
"Do not prick, crush or burn the tick as it may release infected fluids or tissue.
Do not try to smother the tick (e.g. petroleum jelly, nail polish) as the tick has enough oxygen to complete the feeding."

From the National Institute of Health: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007211.htm
"DO NOT try to burn the tick with a match or other hot object.
DO NOT twist the tick when pulling it out.
DO NOT try to kill, smother, or lubricate the tick with oil, alcohol, vaseline, or similar material."

From the NY State Health Dept.: http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/lyme/fact_sheet.htm
"Do not attempt to remove ticks by using petroleum jelly, lit cigarettes or other home remedies because these may actually increase the chance of contracting a tick-borne disease."

All these sites have excellent information on Lyme disease prevention, symptoms and treatment. I could quote another dozen authoritative sites which are easy enough to search for that will all have the same advice. I don't know what else I can say to convince you.

Sorry if I sound a little upset but if you have had someone in your family that suffers from the effects of this disease you would understand.

[WritinginCT]

Does anyone else have the irresistible urge to scratch? ewwww... I hate ticks.

Lots of information being shared here too - always a good thing!