The Best Tools to Remove a Tick

Ticks belong to the class Arachnida, which are related to spiders, mites and scorpions. These arachnids have four life stages: egg, six-legged larva, eight-legged nymph and adult. Ticks are efficient carriers of disease because of their ability to attach firmly to their host and suck blood. They also feed slowly and take several days to complete feeding. There are a variety of tools to safely remove a tick without causing it to regurgitate into the skin and cause infection.

Tweezers

• Tweezers are the most common method of tick removal without having to buy a tool geared specifically for the arachnids. Use the tips of the tweezers to grab around the area where the tick's mouth part enters the skin. Turn the saturated tick counterclockwise slowly to make it release from the skin, and make sure you pick up all of the tick's pieces. Do not jerk, crush, squeeze or puncture the tick.

Ticked Off

• Ticked Off is a tick tool that was one of the first on the market specified for tick removal. Ticked Off looks like a plastic teaspoon with a small V-shaped notch in the spoon. You can remove the tick by sliding the V-notch around the tick and carefully scooping it out. The tool works best if the tick is engorged because small ticks such as nymphs can slip through the notch.

Tick Nipper

• The Tick Nipper is a newer tick removal tool that has a built in magnifying lens to help you see the tick. You slide the nipper jaws under the tick's body, and then gently squeeze the handles to close around the arachnid. Gently lift the nippers, and the tick comes out without being damaged.

Tick Twister Pro

• Tick Twister Pro is a specialist tick tool that can be found in veterinary clinics and pet shops. Slide the V-shaped notch around the tick's body. Approach the tick at its side, and engage the hook until it is held. Lift the hook lightly, and spin the tool to the left or right to remove the tick.