Easy to use tick remover
I can't say how many of these things I've bought over time, probably over 20 from different manufacturers, including "The Original Tick Key" (at $6 each, I didn't get many of them). There are a lot of tricks for removing ticks out there but I've found this method to be the easiest. At this point, I go for this style of gadget at the most affordable option (this time around I bought 3 packs of 3). We live in a wooded area with plenty of wildlife. Unfortunately this also means ticks. Hold a match to the back end of the tick? Doesn't work. Smother it in petroleum jelly? Doesn't work. Grab it with a pair of tweezers? Sometimes you can get a good grip. These gadgets worked consistently and are easy to use. How to use: 1. The gadget is printed with a "this side up". Have that side up, it does matter. 2. Place the big open circle over the tick with the narrow end toward the tick's head. 3. Apply downward pressure while drawing back on the remover. The narrow portion will grab the head (and maybe a little bit of skin, don't worry about that). 4. Dispose of the tick. Fire or alcohol work well. We have keys in each bathroom and on our keyrings. I give them out to friends and especially neighbors with pets. Oh, and if you're wondering about how well they work on pets - don't worry. I've used these on 3 different cats: Our golden boy got out for 2 days and had a tick on him when we found him, the tick was easily removed without a fight. Our girl told us she had a tick and sat still while we removed it (normally she's very fidgety). Most recently, our neighbor's cat got out and when we returned him, there was a tick on his back (easy to spot on a sphynx). I showed her how to use it to remove the tick from her cat and both she and her cat were none the worse for wear. Read more
