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Your Best Source For Learning About And Protecting Yourself from Ticks

Tick Species

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro-Tick Remedy - the Tick Remover

The Pro-Tick has been a favorite tick remover of professionals and outdoor enthusiasts since its introduction in 1993.   Besides its simplicity of use it has many advantages over any other device on the market and these facts have been proven during extensive testing at Ohio State University.

Purchase the Pro-Tick Remedy tick remover - click here

Outstanding characteristics

  • small and convenient to carry, can even be carried in your wallet
  • simple to use, almost intuitive
  • tempered steel construction
  • best performance of any tool tested
  • reasonably priced with a lifetime guarantee

In initial tests the Pro-Tick remedy tick remover successfully removed more than 50 American Dog Ticks and and was cited in the research as having removed all test ticks intact and without damage.  It's also worth noting that the ticks removed by Pro-Tick Remedy tick remover had the most cement attached.  Cement is a latex like adhesive that the tick uses to secure itself at the feeding site.  If left in, the cement can be a point of irritation until the cement is absorbed by the body.  A hard lump can be felt where a tick was removed but the cement did not come out intact.   Cement that does remain should not be cause for alarm since there are no reports of health issues with this substance, just discomfort.  This test included the Pro-Tick Remedy tick remover, two other tick removal tools and a tweezers.  The Pro-Tick was the resounding winner.

A second study was conducted and the test was expanded to include a different species of tick.  The noteworthy addition of the Lone Star tick is important in that this aggressive tick has a longer mouthpart, is a deeper feeder and is more difficult to remove.  All tick removers tested showed very good performance with removal of the adult ticks and performed significantly better than did the tweezers.  The most dramatic results were not with the adult ticks but with the nymphs.  These tiny immature ticks are real culprits when it comes to disease transmission.  They're small, quite hard to see and as a result feed for an extended time without discovery.

When a nymph is discovered it must be removed immediately.  The Pro-Tick succeeded in removal of 72% of the nymph ticks it was tested on.  Now . . . 72% is not 100% but then again it's not the 4% success delivered by the tweezers.  The Pro-Tick Remedy tick remover performed better than any other tool tested at removal of nymph ticks.  The overall conclusion was that tweezers should never be used for the removal of ticks.

The improved model now has a 5X magnifier, excellent instructions and information on protecting yourself from tick bite and, in the opinion of many experts, the best multi-species tick ID card available anywhere.

Standard Using The Pro-Tick Remedy- instructions included with Pro-Tick

Advanced Using the Pro-Tick Remedy- the Pro-Tick Remedy can remove a tick even when you can't see it?  Yes, customers have reported and we have concluded that if you can feel a tick (example in your hairline, back of neck) you can remove it with the Pro-Tick.  You will need to be able to reach the tick with both hands.  Most people have what referred to a strong hand (used for writing etc) and a weak hand.  Using a finger form the weak hand place a finger tip on top of the tick, with the Pro-Tick located in the strong hand you can feel your way under the tick with the Pro-Tick.  Once you feel the tick is secured apply gentle lifting pressure and hold until released.  Keeping the weak finger on the tick while lifting with the strong hand will keep the tick from rotating. This technique will take some practice, it's not for everyone but in a pinch when you are alone without help . . . well it's your choice.  Note: you will read that touching a tick is just a crazy thing to do and should be avoided.  If the tick is attached to someone else it's a good idea to avoid touching it if you can but if it's already attached to you that's intimate and can't get much close then having your blood sucked out of your body.  Again it's your choice!

Nymph removal - unengorged nymphs are difficult for some people to remove, this is especially true for the deer tick, the western black legged tick and the lone star tick. The reason for this is that these species have the longest mouthpart and as such the application of lifting pressure required is often not in balance with what the small nymphs body can accept without damage from rotation.  We have found that the two hand techniques works for many users.  There are two methods:  method 1, guide the Pro-Tick under and around the tick until the tick is near the back of the slot.  At this point the tick should be proud of the Pro-Ticks profile, place your finger behind the tick and guide it into the remainder of the slot, once tight (do not let go with the second finger) hold the tick to the Pro-Tick and lift together.

Method 2, using the edge (left or right) of the Pro-Tick hold the tool at right angles to the skin.  Place the edge of the Pro-Tick against the tick so that the tick is resting against the flat of the blade.  Using your other hand place a finger on the tick to hold it against the flat of the blade.  While holding the tick against the Pro-Tick and keeping the Pro-Tick in contact with the skin rotate the blade so that the tick is lifted from the skin.  This is a two hand rotation since the tick must be continually held to the blade while rotating.

Both of these methods have proven useful.  While the majority of users do not have difficulty removing nymphs some do and have developed these alternatives.  Very few tools with the exception of surgical mosquito forceps, have the precision to remove a nymph tick.  You can't grab them with your fingers, or your nails and while regular tweezers work poorly on mature ticks they don't work at all on nymphs - they just crush them.

NEW PRO-TICK INSTRUCTIONS - these instructions will not be available until production runs starting in 2011.  Since we had the artwork completed we wanted you to have access to the item.

Front page - contains detailed information on making a basic tick identification.

Back page - contains information on the tick and what works to stop them.  Also shows standard meth for use of Pro-Tick Remedy

 

 

 

(C) SCS Limited, 2000 All photographs and material on this website is (c) protected - Pro-tick Remedy is a registered trademark of SCS Ltd