Bitten by a Tick? What to Do Next
Don't Panic. You're in the Right Place
You just found a tick. Take a breath. This guide will walk you through exactly what to do — step by step.
Step 1 — Photograph First
Before you remove the tick, take a clear photo of it attached to your skin in good lighting. This is important evidence if you need to seek treatment — it proves the tick was attached. Also photograph the bite site after removal.
If the tick has already been removed, photograph it anyway. It can still help with identification.
Step 2 — Remove the Tick
Watch this quick 1:30 video before removing your tick — it's incredibly helpful.
Use fine-tipped tweezers and grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
Pull upward slowly and steadily. You'll notice the skin "tent" as you pull — that means you're doing it right. Keep steady pressure until the tick releases.
⚠️ Never twist, burn, squeeze, or apply any substance to an attached tick. This can cause it to regurgitate into the wound, increasing your risk of infection.
Once removed, wash and disinfect the bite site, your hands, and the tweezers with alcohol or another antiseptic.
Do not throw the tick away. Place it in a sealed Ziploc-style bag, label it with the date and location of the bite, and move on to Step 3.
Step 3 — Save & Test the Tick
DO NOT THROW THE TICK AWAY
DO NOT THROW THE TICK AWAY
DO NOT THROW THE TICK AWAY
Testing the tick is one of the most important things you can do. It's faster and cheaper than testing the patient, and it tells you exactly what pathogens — if any — the tick was carrying.
Paid Testing (Recommended)
Geneticks is a private tick testing lab based in Uxbridge, Ontario — about 45 minutes from Toronto. Mail your tick in or drop it off. Here is a breakdown of the services they offer:
| Test Package | 2–5 Days | 48 Hours | Same Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Pathogens — Lyme Disease | $65 | $85 | $100 |
| 6 Pathogens — High Prevalence | $100 | $140 | $160 |
| 9 Pathogens — Common | $150 | $195 | $225 |
| 15 Pathogens — Comprehensive | $300 | $390 | $445 |
Don't worry if you can't test right away. Save the tick — you can send it in for testing months or even years down the road. Here's how to store it:
| Method | Instructions | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Ziploc bag | Sealed bag, away from heat and direct sunlight | Few months |
| Double-bagged in freezer | Two Ziploc bags, labelled with date and bite location | 2+ months |
| 70% rubbing alcohol in fridge | Sealed container with alcohol, stored in refrigerator | 1–2 years |
| Dry specimen, stable conditions | No mold, no temperature fluctuations | Up to 10 years |
If you develop symptoms weeks or months after a bite, having that tick on hand could be invaluable in guiding your diagnosis and treatment.
Why test the tick? It's faster and cheaper than testing the patient — and it tests for coinfections like Bartonella and Babesia that standard Lyme antibiotics won't cover and that routine medical testing misses.
👉 View province-by-province tick statistics at Geneticks
Step 4 — Seek Treatment Early
Do not wait for a rash before seeking treatment.
This is the most important thing to understand after a tick bite. Most people infected with Lyme disease — approximately 70% — never develop any rash at all. Less than 10% develop the classic bullseye. Waiting for a rash to appear before acting can allow the infection to spread, making it significantly harder to treat.
If you do develop a rash: The expanding red rash is called erythema migrans (EM), and it is a definitive sign of Lyme infection. Treatment should begin immediately. Draw a line around the rash with a marker and photograph it daily to document expansion. Show photos to your doctor.
Seek treatment as early as possible — ideally within days of the bite, not weeks.
Getting a Prescription Fast — 3 Canadian Telehealth Options
If you don't have a Lyme-aware provider or can't get an appointment quickly, these three Canadian telehealth services can connect you with a doctor and get you a prescription the same day.
⚠️ Important before you call: None of these are Lyme specialists. They may default to prescribing a single dose of doxycycline — which is not sufficient (see Step 5). Before your visit, pull up the CEP Early Lyme Disease Management guidelines and ask specifically for a minimum 21-day course. You are entitled to advocate for yourself.
🍁 Maple — Best for Speed & Availability
Available to all Canadians, 24/7. Connect with a licensed doctor via text, audio, or video and get a prescription faxed to your pharmacy within minutes. Covered by provincial healthcare plans in several provinces; fee-for-service elsewhere. 👉 getmaple.ca
💊 Your Doctors Online — Best for Convenience
Toronto-based and available Canada-wide. Offers prescription home delivery within 1–2 hours of your virtual consultation — which matters when every hour counts after a tick bite. Covered by provincial plans in multiple provinces. 👉 yourdoctors.online
📋 Felix — Best for Straightforward Access
Available in every Canadian province. Over one million consultations completed, with a 4.8-star rating on Trustpilot. A visit is $40 and gets you a prescription valid for 6–12 months. Simple, fast, no frills. 👉 felixforyou.ca
Finding a Lyme-Aware Provider
For ongoing care or if your symptoms persist after your initial antibiotic course, you'll want a Lyme-literate practitioner. The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) maintains a global directory of trained clinicians. 👉 Find a provider: ilads.org/patient-care/provider-search
Step 5 — Understand Your Treatment Options
After a tick bite, there are two main treatment approaches. Here's what you need to know before speaking with your doctor.
The Single Dose — What Most Doctors Will Offer
The standard approach recommended by Health Canada and the CDC is a single 200 mg dose of doxycycline.
However, there is no evidence in any study that a single dose reliably prevents Lyme infection. Beyond that, a single dose can actually suppress the emergence of the EM rash — removing a key diagnostic signal — and can interfere with the development of IgG antibodies, which can affect blood test accuracy down the road. We do not recommend accepting a single dose as sufficient treatment.
The Longer Course — What Lyme-Literate Practitioners Recommend
ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society) recommends a minimum 20-day course of doxycycline for known tick bites, with longer courses if symptoms are present.
ILADS dosage guidelines for new bites:
- Adults: Doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 21 days, ideally 28 days; 4–6 weeks if symptomatic
- Alternatives: Cefuroxime 500 mg twice daily for 14–21 days, or amoxicillin for those who cannot take doxycycline
- Children under 8: Amoxicillin 50 mg/kg/day in three divided doses (max 1500 mg/day); or cefuroxime 20–30 mg/kg/day in two divided doses
- Children 8 and older: Doxycycline is an additional option, dosed at 4 mg/kg/day in two divided doses (max 200 mg/day)
The Centre for Effective Practice (CEP) has developed early Lyme disease management guidelines that Canadian practitioners are advised to follow. If your doctor is hesitant to prescribe a longer course, bring the CEP Early Lyme Disease Management document to your appointment and show them Section C, Page 5 — this outlines the 21-day course recommended after a new bite.
👉 ILADS Treatment Guidelines 👉 CDC Reference
Step 6 — Stay Alert for the Next 30 Days
Even if you feel fine right now, stay aware. Symptoms of Lyme disease can take days to weeks to appear.
Watch for:
- Expanding rash at or away from the bite site
- Fever or chills
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Joint or muscle pain
- Stiff neck
If anything feels off, don't wait — seek care early. Early treatment is far more effective than treating a disseminated infection.
A Final Word
A tick bite is not a reason to panic. It's a moment to act.
You don't need to guess. You don't need to wait.
You just need the right steps — at the right time.
⚠️ Disclaimer
This content is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Please consult a licensed healthcare provider for all care decisions.