Today, I’d love to introduce you to the best tick removal tool there is in my humble opinion: The Tick Twister!
It makes tick removal SO painless and easy, I truly believe that everyone should own one!
Just the other day, I used my Tick Twister when I was walking one of my client’s dogs, German Shorthaired Pointer Tab. I had noticed a crawling lone star tick on him and immediately reached for my lanyard that holds my Tick Twister and my Storm Whistle.
For those of you who may not know: I’m a professional dog walker & pet sitter.
Update 2021: I no longer own my dog walking and pet sitting business, but to this day I STILL use and recommend the Tick Twister!
Best Tick Removal Tool: The Tick Twister
Disclaimer: This blog post was originally published in 2016 and has been updated in 2021. It contains affiliate links I may earn compensation through at no additional cost to you
Back in 2016, booth #5552 , the O’Tom Tick Twister® booth, definitely made it on my list of brands to go see at the Global Pet Expo in Orlando, FL!
Ever since I got my hands on two Tick Twisters® at the Super Pet Expo in Chantilly, VA back in 2012, I’ve been a fan of this very handy product. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve used it walking my own pups as well as client dogs!
I found brand representatives Stefan & Marion in the International Section of the Global Pet Expo.
After all, the O’Tom Tick Twister® is made in France! That’s where it was developed by veterinarian Dr. Heitz in 1995.
It actually wasn’t introduced in the US until 2000, and now it’s sold in over 30 countries.
How to remove ticks using the Tick Twister
As I mentioned above, you can use the Tick Twister® to simply scoop up a tick that you notice crawling on yourself or your pet. That’s without having to touch it with your hands!
If it’s latched on to your dog or yourself, use the Tick Twister® to remove it as follows:
1) Choose the right size Tick Twister® depending on the size of the tick (small or large).
2) Engage the hook of the Tick Twister® by approaching the tick from the side.
3) Move the hook upwards in a turning motion. The tick will detach from the skin after a few turns.
Benefits of using the Tick Twister
- Removes the tick in its entirety, to include the head.
- Doesn’t compress the tick’s abdomen. That releases disease-causing pathogens.
- Use it on a variety of pets AND humans.
- Makes tick removal quick & painless.
- The small size makes it the perfect tool to carry along on walks, hikes, bike tours, camping trips, etc.
Where exactly are ticks found?
Contrary to traditional belief, ticks don’t hang out in trees and let themselves fall onto their prey.
Instead, ticks are generally found in grass, bushes, and undergrowth of about one foot in height. That’s where they wait for their host to brush past, and then it catches a ride on them.
Are there any tick preventatives?
Not any that work 100%.
Since we know that ticks are found in taller grass and bushes, you can keep your lawn trimmed and avoid walking through underbrush in wooded areas.
Also, wear light colored clothing. That helps you detect any freeloading ticks quickly.
Additionally, inspect yourself and your pet immediately after you come back inside.
I also apply non-chemical based insect repellents to both pups and myself before going on walks. For example, Dr. Harvey’s Herbal Protection Spray for dogs or Anicura’s Insect Repellent.
Most importantly though, I always carry a Tick Twister® on me!
Best Tick Removal Tool: Tick Twister Giveaway
Stefan & Marion were kind enough to provide me with a few free Tick Twisters®! I’ve given some away to dog walking clients, but I’d also like to give you, my valued readers, the chance of getting the best tick removal tool as well!
That’s why the first three readers who leave a comment on this post will receive one pouch containing 2 different size Tick Twisters®. All you have to say is that you’d like to get a Tick Twister®!
I’ll have to limit this to readers from the continental US, please.
Update: Congratulations to Crystal, Mark, & Elaine for getting their paws on a Tick Twister! This concludes the giveaway!
Where to buy the Tick Twister
Everyone else who’s interested in getting a hold of the best tick removal tool can get it on Amazon.
How do you deal with ticks and have you heard of/used the Tick Twister® tool? As always, we’d love to hear from you in our comment section!
18 comments
Oh God, ticks!
I know, right – they’re just plain nasty.
I’d love to have one of these to carry along on hikes and trips. Ticks creep me out, and I hate having to remove them.
You just got your paws on pouch #1 😉 Just email me your address and I’ll send them your way!
Awesome!
I actually have a really bad tick story too. Years ago, I got a tick on my leg while hiking. I found it and removed it when I got home, no more than 4 hours after it attached. But the bit site never really healed. It would get red and look like a mosquito bite, then turn a dark purple, itching really horribly the entire time. Then it would kind of subside, go to just a bit of a slightly itchy raised red bump, before repeating the process. I went to the doctor and was given antibiotics for lyme disease (though there was no bullseye rash, and the tick wasn’t attached long enough to lyme to be an issue), but was allergic to the antibiotics. I went back to the doctor a few times over the years where the bite continued being an issue, and was always told to put anti-itch cream on it, or something equally useless. I finally basically threw a fit and insisted that the doctor take it off- it was a minor in office procedure to remove the stupid thing.
A week later, the doctor called to tell me that initial lab reports showed that it was lymphoma, and that they were sending the sample for more testing. It was over a month later, and a visit to an oncologist, that they diagnosed it as pseudolymphoma, a condition normally brought on by medications- I was one of less than 20 documented cases of it being in response to a bug bite.
So basically, even though everything ended up turning out fine, the entire episode was stressful and horrible, and I never want to go through anything like it ever again.
Got your address, thanks! The Tick Twisters will be on their way shortly 🙂
Good God, what a nightmare. Good for you that you threw a fit, but I can’t believe that the Doctors wouldn’t be more proactive after noticing that the issue kept coming back. I suppose they assumed that the chances were slim to none for your case to be classified as pseudo lymphoma. I have certainly never heard of it, so thank you for sharing your story!
That looks like a great gadget. We do not have to remove ticks often. We normally just use a tick key.
It really is a great little helper 😉 What’s a tick key?
It is flat and has a circular opening to put over the tick and pop it up and off. It can usually be carried on a key chain so I think that is why they call it a tick key.
Ah, very interesting! I never stop learning on here!!!
Darn! I just missed it, lol! These look really handy since we do a lot of hiking. I prefer to just do an tick inspection too, rather than use harsh tick repellents. Looks like a really cool remover. Thanks for sharing it!
Lol, you’re not too late Elaine, I still have 2 Tick Twisters to give away ~ just let me know if you want one to take along on your hikes 😉
I would love to try the Tick Twister, Barbara! Somehow I missed the part about mentioning that in my comment, but if you still have any to giveaway, count me in! 🙂
Lol, you just got your hands on the third & last one, Elaine! I’ll be mailing it your way today 🙂
Yay! Not yay for ticks, but yay for not having to touch those nasty little guys, lol. Thanks, Barbara!
Ugh, I know, they’re just nasty little suckers – literally :-/
This looks like a great tool to add to my first aid kit! If you have any left I would love to try one out and recommend to my pet clients!
Hi Mark, oh yes, it’s the perfect tool for us pet care professionals 🙂 I still have one for you and will send it your way! I hope you won’t have to use it, but if you do, you won’t have to stress out about how to remove that darn tick.