Your Best Source For Learning About And Protecting Yourself from Ticks

ProTick Remedy – the Tick Remover

The ProTick Remedy 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. and elsewhere. The Pro-Tick Remedy remains the only tick remover that can actually be carried in your wallet – simply remove the chain and magnifier.

Purchase the ProTick Remedy tick remover – click here

Outstanding characteristics

  • smallest and most convenient to carry, can even be carried in your wallet
  • simple to use, almost intuitive (but read the instructions anyway – thanks)
  • tempered steel construction lasts indefinitely
  • best performance of any tool tested
  • reasonably priced with a lifetime guarantee

Check out the Pro-Tick Remedy tool in action – YouTube 

Actual deer tick nymph being removed with Pro-tick Remedy

In initial tests, the ProTick Remedy tick remover successfully removed more than 50 American Dog Ticks and was noted in the research as having removed all test ticks intact and without damage.  It’s also worth noting that the ticks removed by ProTick Remedy tick remover had the most cement attached.  Tick cement is a latex-like adhesive that the tick uses to secure itself at the feeding site, this is especially common with tick species that have short mouthparts such as the American Dog tick.  If not removed the cement can be a point of irritation until it is absorbed by the body.  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 tweezers.  The ProTick was the resounding winner.

A second study was conducted, and the test was expanded to include a different species of tick.  The addition of the Lone Star tick is important in that this aggressive tick has a longer mouthpart (like Deer tick), is a deeper feeder and is more difficult to remove.  All tick removers tested showed very good performance with the removal of the adult ticks and performed significantly better than did the tweezers.  Tweezers only performed at a 4% success rate.  The most dramatic results were not with the adult ticks but with the nymphs.  These tiny immature ticks are the real culprits when it comes to disease transmission.  They’re small, quite difficult to see and as a result feed for an extended time and full engorgement without being discovered.

Photo left: Actual removal of engorged nymph deer tick being removed with ProTick Remedy.

When a nymph is discovered it must be removed immediately.  The ProTick Remedy succeeded in the removal of 72% of the Lone Star nymph ticks (1998 Stewart, Needham, Burgdorfer) it was tested on.  Now . . . 72% is not 100% but then again it’s not the 4% success delivered by the tweezers.  The ProTick Remedy tick remover performed better than any other tool tested at the removal of nymph ticks.  The overall conclusion was that tweezers should never be used for the removal of ticks.  A  third study was conducted in 2002 (Piesman Dolan) where 10 tick removal tools were tested against the #4 fine tipped tweezer.  The subject tick was the nymph Black Legged tick (aka deer tick).  Two tools successfully, along with the #4 tweezer; removed all nymph ticks tested.  The ProTick Remedy was one of those tools, 100%

The improved model now has a 5X magnifier, excellent instructions, and information on protecting yourself from a tick bite and, in the opinion of many experts, the best multi-species tick ID card available.  With the addition of our tick identification tutorial (can be seen with links at the bottom of this page), the ProTick Remedy stands alone as the only tick removal tool offering important educational tick information.

Photo left: Actual adult deer tick after ProTick Remedy removal.

Below are some advanced techniques that have been suggested by customers –

Advanced Using the ProTick Remedy- the ProTick Remedy can remove a tick even when you can’t see it?  Yes, customers have reported and we have confirmed that if you can feel a tick (example in your hairline, back of the neck or behind the knee) you can remove it unassisted with the ProTick Remedy.  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 the weak hand place a fingertip on top of the tick, with the ProTick Remedy located in the strong hand you can feel your way under the tick with the ProTick Remedy.  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 . . . 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, (use a piece of tissue to contact the tick) but if it’s already attached to you and sucking your blood . . . the touching with a finger becomes irrelevant.  Again it’s your choice!

Nymph removal – un-engorged nymphs are difficult for some people to remove, this is especially true for the Deer tick (Black Legged tick), the Western Black Legged tick and the Lone Star tick. The reason for this is that these species have the longest mouthpart and when lifting pressure is excessive (trying to force removal) the resistance of the tick is not in balance and the tick rotates out of the slot.  This is often compounded by not having the tick positioned at the very apex of the slot. We have found that the two hand techniques work for many users.  Guide the ProTick Remedy under and around the tick until the tick is at the apex of the slot.  At this point, the tick should be proud of the ProTicks 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 ProTick Remedy and lift together.

While the majority of users do not have difficulty removing nymphs some do and have developed this alternative.  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.  If you choose to use a tweezer it should be of good quality with precision alignment of the tips, the #4 fine point tweezer is the choice of many professionals.  To test the precision of a tweezer – hold the tweezer up to the light so that you can see the side of the tips as they close.  Close the tweezer – there should be no light.  Less quality tweezer will exhibit a shift of contact from the tips front to the tips rear.  The front will open as the rear closes, this would not be a good choice for tick removal especially nymphs.

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