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In this instructable I will demonstrate how to easily remove a tick from your dog without pulling it out. The tick will crawl out on it's own and you won't have to deal with 'did I get it all out?'. This sounds like a magic trick and you might even think it is, I did. My sister inlaw had been telling me how to do it for quite a while and I just never tried it, because I didn't think it would work. One day when I was at the vet getting my dogs their yearly shots, my vet found a tick and removed it using this method and I was sold.
I easily remove about 20 ticks a year from my two dogs. When I used the old way, which was get your tweezers as close to the head of the tick and pull straight out, it would often leave parts of the tick behind. Ticks seem to like areas near the eyes and ears, which would leave marks and scars that wouldn't ever go away.
So how do you do it?
Rub the tick in a circular motion and pretend you're trying to make the tick dizzy. I generally stick with one direction, clockwise. It usually takes less than a minute, so if it's not working, make sure the body of the tick is moving around. Remember you can't get dizzy unless you're actually moving in a circle, quickly. I doubt the tick actually gets dizzy, but they sure don't like something about the movement and they crawl out on their own.
This was too difficult to document with photos, so here's the video.
I easily remove about 20 ticks a year from my two dogs. When I used the old way, which was get your tweezers as close to the head of the tick and pull straight out, it would often leave parts of the tick behind. Ticks seem to like areas near the eyes and ears, which would leave marks and scars that wouldn't ever go away.
So how do you do it?
Rub the tick in a circular motion and pretend you're trying to make the tick dizzy. I generally stick with one direction, clockwise. It usually takes less than a minute, so if it's not working, make sure the body of the tick is moving around. Remember you can't get dizzy unless you're actually moving in a circle, quickly. I doubt the tick actually gets dizzy, but they sure don't like something about the movement and they crawl out on their own.
This was too difficult to document with photos, so here's the video.
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The only troubles I have had with this technique, is when you catch the tick early in it's attaching process. It makes it harder to actually get the body of the tick to move around and you feel like you're just rubbing the tick. If it won't come off, I will usually wait another day instead of risking leaving part of the tick behind in my dog.
This method should work on people as well, but I haven't had the chance to try it out. I don't think it will work as well, because you generally catch the tick early on and there's no body to move around. It's also easier to get parts of the tick out as you can use tweezers and then just like removing a splinter, get the rest out.
Once you have the tick out, wrap the tick in a piece of tape to kill it. If you're taking it off yourself or another person, you probably want to put it in a jar of rubbing alcohol and get it tested for Lyme disease.
This method should work on people as well, but I haven't had the chance to try it out. I don't think it will work as well, because you generally catch the tick early on and there's no body to move around. It's also easier to get parts of the tick out as you can use tweezers and then just like removing a splinter, get the rest out.
Once you have the tick out, wrap the tick in a piece of tape to kill it. If you're taking it off yourself or another person, you probably want to put it in a jar of rubbing alcohol and get it tested for Lyme disease.
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THANK YOU!
Lilly had a big tick on the side of her face, and after finding this instructable, my wife put on a rubber glove and used her index finger to twirl the tick around as described here.
30 seconds, and the tick came right off, head and all, just as advertized!
Thank you for making a gross job easy for both my wife and our dog Lilly.
No stress on the tick picker or on the pooch.
Cheers,
Gary.
For the sake of those who, for whatever reason, have trouble getting this method to work, here is another method that has been 100% successful for me, allowing me to get the tic out whole every time.
1) Cover the tick in vaseline. This stops them from getting air through the spicules in the sides of their bodies and they die in place if you wait about 60s before going to step two. Wait at least 30s so they will be sluggish, if not yet dead.
2) Now that they aren't holding on anymore, grab their body, none too gently, with the tweezers or a pair of pliers (easier to use, frankly) and turn counter clockwise. Tics are threaded. I'm not joking. They come out within two or three1/4 turns.
3) Wipe up the excess vaseline with a kleenex and its all good. The vaseline cleans up remarkably easily.
If the tic is in a very hairy place, you can put tape on the dogs fur to hold the hair back away from the tic before you apply the vaseline. Doing this will make it easier to grab and turn the tic without getting the tweezers tangled up in the hair. Yes, some hair comes off on the tape, but they don't seem to mind much.
Read through and watched the video....I was skeptical...but something about it felt right...like maybe I'd heard about something similar to this yrs ago...
Anyhoo, I decided to give it a shot as I was getting nowhere quick with my muzzled (for safety!) black beauty.
I isolated the tick (it was at about half size engorgement) and commenced the rotational rubbing action...being very light on the pressure and careful not to crush the tick...
After about fifteen seconds I stopped and felt the tick and assessed it's attachment...still attached. I was a bit disallusioned... I started up again with the circular rubbing action when suddenly I realized the tick had suddenly detached and fallen onto the counter top with a satisfying little sound...like a raindrop hitting the ground!!!
I was absolutely astounded>>>and ecstatic!!!! If this proves to be safe ( I will watch for signs of infection etc) It'll be one of the best tips ever for tick removal!!!
The removal process in the past has always been successful....but also stressful and quite the PIA !! Plus, I think Rory may have enjoyed the whole process! Thanks for the excellent info!!!!!
Thanks again.
I read your instructable, and easily had it out in seconds!
Thanks so much!
Your dogs are adorable. I giggled at the end of the video when Linus shook his head and his ears made a flapping noise.
Also a note to anyone worried about not finding ticks on your pet: We had one on our dog for a couple of days once until it got big enough that we noticed it. I vaguely recall having noticed something on his ear and didn't check it until it got big and we could feel it when we petted him. You will notice it eventually!
When I get it out, I throw it in some alcohol to preserve it just in case my dog gets sick.
Place the tick in a small plastic vial or zipper-locking snack bag with a small piece of paper towel moistened with a few drops of water. Be sure the container is firmly secured.
Tick Identification and Testing Services
http://tinyurl.com/2agh8fs
I loathe getting anywhere near ticks so when my dog came out of the woods with one above her eyebrow, I jump on a Google search and found a bunch of remedies. This one seemed the most palatable and I didn't have to pull in it, risking leaving the head behind.
I donned rubber gloves and circularly massaged that yucky predator right out of her skin. Dropped off like a drunken sailor!
THANK YOU SO MUCH... I'm going to post this method to Facebook so my other tick-hating friends will know to try it too!
Once done, please don't forget to wash your hands and watch for signs of infection!
The tick that my husband and I had tried to remove with those darn tweezers all morning came off in less than a minute while I was twirling it's body round and round and round as my husband was laughing at me for trying such a method.
Impressive Mr. Lebowski, impressive. With two dogs & a woodsy yard you have really helped us. Thank you so much, Lori