When you spend a lot of time outdoors, chances are knowing how to remove a tick will come in handy for you. The trick is knowing how to sort the myths from the facts—getting tick removal wrong could be dangerous. Learning how to remove a tick correctly is one of the best ways to protect yourself, your family, and your pets.
Why Proper Tick Removal Is Important
Removing a tick is important for several reasons. When a tick is removed incorrectly, it can cause the tick to salivate and regurgitate into the bite site, which may increase the risk of contracting tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, babesiosis, and more. Removing it correctly can also prevent skin irritation and lower the likelihood of inflammation at the bite site.
Additionally, it will also help to ensure that you get the entire tick out, including the head and mouth parts. If they aren’t removed, it could cause a dangerous secondary infection.
How to Remove a Tick
Since a tick attaches itself to your body, removing it is slightly more difficult than removing other types of insects. While you can simply brush away most bugs, a tick attaches to the body, bites the skin, inserts a barbed feeding tube, and begins drinking blood. Ticks differ from most biting bugs in that they burrow into the skin and remain attached to the body even after biting. Because many ticks carry diseases, they can pass these diseases to their human host while attached.
Before you start picking at the tick, grab some supplies:
- Pointy tweezers – Choose tweezers with a pointed tip, not square. Your typical eyebrow tweezers likely aren’t pointy enough and might tear the tick’s body.
- Rubbing alcohol or soap and water—Once the tick is removed, you will use this to clean the site thoroughly.
Once you have these items ready to go, follow these steps on how to extract ticks:
- Clean the area surrounding the tick bite with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
- Take your pointed tweezers and place the point down into the skin so you can grasp the insect as closely as possible to the tick’s head.
- Use slow, firm motion and apply steady pressure to pull the tick straight up and out of the skin—avoid jerking or twisting. If the tick breaks, make sure to go back to the bite site to remove the remaining head. If you are unable to remove the head, seek medical attention.
What to Do After Removing a Tick
Once the tick is removed, avoid handling it with your bare hands. Instead, use the tweezers to place the tick’s body into a container with a blade of grass if you wish to keep it alive to send away for testing.
You can also dispose of the tick by flushing it down the toilet. Use rubbing alcohol or soap and water to clean the bite area once again. This will help to prevent infection and skin irritation.
Although your chances for infection lower when you know how to remove ticks effectively, it’s still a good idea to remain alert to any possible changes in your symptoms. If you notice anything concerning, don’t hesitate to seek medical attention.
How to Get Rid of a Tick from Pets
Humans aren’t the only lucky ones who could find themselves on a tick’s dinner buffet. These pesky biters love our pets, too!
If you have the unfortunate situation of finding a tick on your pet, it’s important to keep your pet as calm and still as possible. This will minimize movement while you remove the tick and lessen the chances of breaking the head off into your pet’s body.
Using your pointed tweezers, grab the tick as closely to your pet’s body as possible and pull it straight out. Be careful not to squeeze the tick's body, as this could increase the chances of infection.
Once it’s been removed, clean the area as you would a human. Dispose of the tick and monitor your pet for any symptoms of illnesses. Things like lethargy or loss of appetite are all reasons to call your veterinarian.
If you find one tick on your pet, chances are there are more in your area! Look into getting your pet on a flea and tick medication or have them wear a flea collar when they’re exploring outside.
When to Call a Professional for Tick Removal
You can never be too cautious about tick bites and preventing tick-borne illnesses. While it’s great to know how to remove a tick, it’s so much better to prevent tick bites!
Add a layer of protection to your outdoor fun with Mosquito Joe’s tick control treatments. Our eco-friendly pest control services can help protect your family and property from ticks and a variety of biters, including mosquitoes, fleas, and gnats.
You know your tick control service will be done right and on time because Mosquito Joe is a Neighborly company. Our services are backed by the Neighborly Done Right Promise®;️ and the Mosquito Joe Satisfaction Guarantee!
Let Mosquito Joe help you in preparing for tick season. Request a free quote today!
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This article is intended for general informational purposes only and may not be applicable to every situation. You are responsible for determining the proper course of action for your home and property. Mosquito Joe is not responsible for any damages that occur as a result of this blog content or your actions. For the most accurate guidance, contact your local Mosquito Joe location for a comprehensive, on-site assessment.
