6 Ways to Remove a Tick's Head After the Body Is Gone (Dogs and Humans) • GudGear (2023)

So you've hit a tick. And took it off. And the tick's head remains - embedded in the skin. AND NOW? In this post, you will learn 6 waysremove a tick headlaterthe body is gone.

Can you squash a tick? Get the answer plus 16 raw facts about ticks

How to remove a tick headForthe body is gone

Ticks:Mother Nature's equivalent of telemarketing.

Where I live they are found by the thousands, especially in tall grass after rain. And you know my dog ​​loves tall grass! Needless to say, I had to argue with some of them.

I am always amazed at the strength and resistance of a tick. They certainly have a stronghold for little things.

The best protection is defense (of a chemical nature), but when that fails, as it often does, you have a problem and need to pull it out.

See more information: Camper's Guide to Essential Oil Insect Repellents: Mosquitoes, Ticks, and Fleas

Do you have small children?Here they areThe best insect repellents for babies.

There are many guides online on how to remove an entire tick;You make it look so easy, don't you?But many times you've followed the instructions to the letter, but that damn tick head is still there!

The first thing to do is not to panic.

When the body is removed (and in a ziplock bag somewhere in case a vet or doctor needs to test it for disease at a later date), the tick is dead and they will not vomit the stomach contents onto your dog or child, what is what causes infections and disease transmission.

Many people advise that keeping a level head is not a problem. I don't know about you, but I don't like my son or my dogwalking around with a tick head attachedon her skin! Even if the risk of infection is small, there is a risk and I want to make the most of it.

New to camp? Here they arebest equipmentfor you!

6 ways to remove a tick's head after the body is gone

Here are some proven methods to remove that tick head.

1. Get the plastic

If a little head sticks out, there is an opportunity to tryShake it off with the edge of a hard plastic card🇧🇷 a credit card is ideal.

You need to place the corner of the credit card against the edge of the head and then push down into the skin, imagining you are trying to get in at the end of the head and apply upward pressure to sweep it across.

The benefit of this method is that it does not inflame the area or create a risk of infection; therefore, trying it first is probably the best option.

If that doesn't work, you may need to try something more invasive.

2. Treat it like a splinter

If you think about it, a tick's head gets stuck in the skin like a splinter. It's a little different and a little more complicated because, theoretically, a splinter is a straight, smooth piece of wood and a tick's head has little barbs that help it stick.

However, it is worth removing it carefully with a sterilized needle and fine tweezers.

If you're going to get ticks off your child, you probably know exactly what I'm talking about because you've done this splintering exercise a thousand times. But if not, let me explain, because if possible, you want to get it right the first time.

this is something youjust want to try a few times, and if it doesn't work, you want to admit defeat quickly. What you don't want to do is dig around the area with a needle and further inflame the area or cause an infection.

• Wash the area with soap and water to remove dirt and unwanted bacteria
• Sterilize the needle and forceps with isopropyl alcohol
• If part of the tick's head is sticking out of the skin, try gently pulling it off with tweezers. Be careful when pulling the legs as they will break easily.
• If nothing is coming out and the tick's head is completely under the skin, try gently piercing the skin at the entry point, then use the needle to excise the tick's head. When part of the tick's head is visible, use the tweezers to pull it off.

As mentioned, if this doesn't work quickly, don't proceed as you could make the problem worse by infecting the area. Be sure to clean the area thoroughly with soap and water when you're done.

Do you want to avoid this in the first place?Here they are14 homemade insect repellent recipes.

3. Scalpel or razor blade

If you don't have tweezers handy, but you have a scalpel or a single razor blade, try using them to remove a tick's head trapped under the skin.

I can't stress you enoughmust be very careful with it, and a dull blade is best because you don't want to cut your dog or child in the process!

What you want to do is gently hold the area of ​​skin between two fingers (not pressing too hard) and thenScrape the edge of the bladeabove the entry point of the tick's head. You don't want to cut it, you want it to scratch.

The purpose isTear off the top layer of skinso that the tick's head pops out and out. Tweezers are useful at this point to give that last bit of help and pull the head out, but if you don't have any just gently push down and hopefully this dislodges the head of the tick.

4. Sais of Epsom

When it comes to particularly stubborn tick heads that just won't budge, or you're looking for a less invasive way to get rid of one, Epsom salts are the answer.

Epsom salt is so useful and can be used for so many different things. That's why I always have a suitcase handy at home.

The downside to using Epsom salts is that it can take a few days, but in my experience, they always work. epsom saltremove toxins from the bodyand they will do the same with a tick head.

To try this method, dissolve some Epsom salts in warm water. Once dissolved, check the water temperature; For children and dogs, the water should be lukewarm at most, as their skin is more delicate than that of adults.

Take a strong kitchen towel or clean cloth and soak it in warm salt water. Leave this on the area as a compress for 10-15 minutes; Do this at least twice a day.

If the area is on a foot or another appendage, you can also soak that appendage in a small salt bath. Dogs don't like this option very much from experience and salt water tends to end up everywhere.

5. Visit your vet/doctor

If you've tried to remove the tick's head and failed, you can always opt out of that.Let nature take its courseand expel the tick head in your own time while monitoring the area for infection.

However, if you are the anxious type and prefer to vent,go to the vet or doctor🇧🇷 After all, they are the professionals and they do their job removing foreign objects, so they should be able to help.

While this will cost you dearly, sometimes it's nice to know that the tick's head is really gone and to have peace of mind that everything looks good. If the area is infected, they may also administer topical medications or antibiotics to ensure the infection doesn't get worse.

6. Try a tick remover pliers

Probably the best way to remove a tick is to start with a tool made specifically for the job.

Sawyer Products manufactures a tool called "Tick Pliers". If you find yourself in the undesirable situation of having only the head on the skin, these pliers are worth a try.

Check current price on Amazon

These tweezers separate the tick at the surface of the skin, preventing the unfortunate injection of the tick's stomach contents into the person you are trying to remove it from.

And they have a raised edge to help remove the tick. These pliers work on humans, cats, and dogs.

Here they are7 tips to avoid ticks when walking.

4 things NOT to do with a built-in tick head

There are some things I did because I had no other options or I followed the well-meaning advice of others I have.would not recommend🇧🇷 They are as follows:

1. Do not use bulky/square tweezers– You might think they're better than nothing, but they're not. Trying to remove a tick with coarse tweezers is like asking an elephant to peel a banana. If youaccidentally squeeze this fluid-filled body, guess where that liquid goes? That's right, through your child/dog's mouth and body.We want to avoid this at all costs.
2. Spray the tick head and area with petroleum jelly (or nail polish remover or kerosene)- Depending on which option you choose, it will either ruin your chances of getting that head off or burn the delicate skin around the area. None of these things are effective if your tick is already dead.
3. Burn the tick's heador the area - again, it's dead, the only thing you'll burn is your poor dog or child.
4. Dig the area a lot and keep pissing them off.– that just makes your job ten times harder.

What to Watch for After the Tick Head is Removed

These pesky ticks carry a variety of diseases, as their raison d'être is to consume as much blood as possible from many different hosts, like a tiny, voracious vampire.

Depending on where you live, your local ticks may be at risk for Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, southern tick-borne rash, tularemia, or tick bite paralysis, to name a few.

It's important to watch your child or dog for signs of tick infection, including:

• Fever
• skin irritation
• fatigue
• muscle failure/paralysis
• Barking change (dogs only)
• loss of concentration
• any aches or pains
• any rash

If you have any questions or are concerned, take him to the doctor or veterinarian immediately.

While your child is likely to be perfectly fine, many of the illnesses caused by ticks are unpleasant and need to be treated quickly if an infection occurs.

Finally, always remember that prevention is better than cure. At the height of tick season, be sure to:

• Your dog will be treated with a reliable tick repellent.
• If you venture into tick-prone areas (like tall grass!), have your family dress appropriately to minimize tick access to your skin, and use insect repellent, preferably with DEET.

By following these steps, you'll greatly minimize the chances of having to pluck another nasty tick from someone's ear, leg, or butt.

But for all the preparation in the world, make sure you regularly check everyone, humans and animals, for ticks. The sooner they are stopped, the lower the risk of disease transmission!

Observe:This is not professional advice. If in doubt, consult a specialist doctor for your child or a veterinarian for your pet.

Do you want to avoid tick bites?Here they areThe 5 best tick repellents for humans.

Sources:

• https://www.lymeneteurope.org/info/tick-removal
• https://healthyliving.azcentral.com/how-to-remove-a-tick-with-a-stuck-head-12322091.html
• https://www.askdrsears.com/topics/health-concerns/skin-care/insect-bites-stings/removing-ticks

Do you hate mosquitoes?Here they areThe 7 Best Electronic Insect Repellents

Your turn

How do you deal with ticks? Do you have any questions about how to remove a tick head with someone?Join me in the comments!