Frequently asked questions about tick removal

Can we use TICK TWISTER^® on humans ?

Yes, in fact, the micro TICK TWISTER^® hook is designed specifically for tiny ticks which are most often found on humans.

Is rotation direction important to correctly remove a tick with TICK TWISTER^® ?

No, rotation direction is not important: generally, right-handed people find it easier to turn clockwise, left-handed people prefer an anti-clockwise movement.
It is essential not pull on the tick.

Should I “put a tick to sleep” before removing it ?

No! Any aggressive approach, either by chemicals (alcohol, oil, etc..), flame, or compression with fingers or tweezers etc. may induce saliva regurgitation from the tick.
The saliva can be infected, therefore it’s better to twist the tick properly than to use the old methods of removal. These old methods can significantly increase the chances of disease transmission.

Is it normal that there is a red spot around the bite location ?

Yes, but be careful: the red spot should not persist more than 2 or 3 days, and its diameter should not exceed a few millimeters.
If the red area persists, and/or is growing or is moving, contact a doctor immediately.

I removed a large tick from my dog, and there was a very small tick stuck to the large one. Is it a baby ?

No, it is a male mating with the female; only females need to nourish themselves, as they need blood to develop their eggs. Males don't eat, they only fertilize females.

Why is there sometimes a small swelling, even after removing the tick entirely with TICK TWISTER^® ?

Tick saliva induces swelling, even more so if the tick was present for a long time. Generally, it disappears in a few days.

Does a tick grow back if its rostrum remains under the skin ?

The parts of the tick still embedded in the skin remain a foreign body; this can cause temporary inflammation or, more annoying, an abscess or granuloma, but it is not really a danger to health. In any case, the tick cannot grow back from fragments of the rostrum left in the skin.

I just removed a tick from my cat; what should I do with the removed tick ?

Because the removed with TICK TWISTER^® tick is alive, you must dispose of it safely; to avoid contamination, you should not touch it. The easiest thing to do is to wrap it in a piece of adhesive tape, and throw it away in the rubbish bin.

Do you systematically become infected if a tick bites you ?

Tick–borne diseases are not caused by the ticks themselves, but by bacteria or parasites that may be found in their saliva. So, as long as the tick’s saliva does not contain any microbes, the worst that can happen is the appearance of a small red spot.
Remember however that nowadays, more and more ticks are infected, so it’s important to remove them quickly and properly.