05/30/2025
Since posting about being bitten by a tick this weekend I’ve heard from several sources about how abundant the ticks are this year.
Hopefully this doesn’t happen to you… but if it does … I found the etick.ca website helpful
It helps you identify the tick and provides guidance on how to remove ticks, what symptoms to watch for and how to prevent tick bites.
A few tips to keep in mind…
📌the bacteria that causes Lyme is only found in specific ticks. If you remove a tick, keep the tick to identify it (this website helps you do that)
📌if a tick has been attached for less than 24 hours there’s less likelihood of it transmitting the bacteria
📌if you’ve been bitten, remove the tick fully and monitor for symptoms of infection (refer to the website for specifics)
📌a single dose of preventative antibiotics within 72 hours of a tick bite can reduce the risk of developing Lyme if that tick was infected. This antibiotic can be prescribed by your family dr/walk-in clinic or pharmacists in Ontario
I haven’t developed any symptoms but opted for preventative antibiotics because
- I wasn’t sure how long the tick had been attached
- I was bitten by the type of tick that can transmit Lyme
- It’s one single dose of antibiotics
- I know how difficult chronic Lyme disease is to treat and recover from. Prevention is the best medicine.ten
