Bites & parasites
Tick bites (post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent Lyme disease)
A tick bite is the one minor ailment where the clock genuinely matters: preventive treatment against Lyme disease must begin within 72 hours of removing the tick. A pharmacist at Murray Shore Pharmacy in North York can assess your tick exposure the same day you walk in, weigh the specific risk factors, and act inside that window, no doctor's appointment required.
Common signs
- A tick found attached to the skin, or recently removed
- A small red bump or mild itching at the bite site, which is a normal local reaction
- Uncertainty about how long the tick was attached
- A bite acquired in wooded, grassy, or brushy areas, including ravines and trails around the GTA and cottage country
- The tick itself, if you saved it, which genuinely helps the assessment
See a doctor instead if
- An expanding circular or bull's-eye rash around the bite, which suggests early Lyme disease and needs a physician, not prevention
- Fever, chills, fatigue, muscle aches, or joint pain in the weeks after a bite
- Facial droop, severe headache, or heart palpitations following a tick bite
- More than 72 hours since the tick was removed, when prevention is no longer an option and monitoring guidance takes over
- Pregnancy or a young child, where we assess and refer as appropriate
Any of these sound like you? Call 416-789-1800 and we will point you the right way — or reach Health811 (opens in a new tab) by calling 811.
How the assessment works
The pharmacist works through the specific criteria for post-exposure prophylaxis: the type of tick if known, how long it was likely attached, since risk rises with attachment beyond 24 to 36 hours, where you were bitten geographically, and the time since removal. Where the criteria are met, a preventive antibiotic may be prescribed where appropriate, usually as a single dose. If the window has passed or symptoms have started, you get clear monitoring instructions and a referral. The assessment is covered by OHIP.
Sources 1, 3Three ways to get started. Do it all from home, or come in.
Start online from your phone, call us, or walk in and ask for the pharmacist. No appointment is needed. When you start online, a pharmacist calls or messages you back to finish the assessment. Prefer email? Write to us.
Frequently asked questions
Plain answers from the pharmacy team. Tap a question to open it.
I just found a tick on me. What do I do this minute?
Remove it now rather than waiting for the assessment: grasp it with fine tweezers as close to the skin as possible and pull straight up, without twisting, burning, or coating it in anything. Save the tick in a sealed bag or container and bring it with you.
Why does the 72-hour window matter so much?
The preventive approach is only recommended when started within 72 hours of tick removal. Past that point the assessment changes from prevention to watchful monitoring, so the sooner you come in, the more options exist.
The tick was only on me for an hour or two. Do I still need anything?
Very brief attachment carries low risk, since transmission generally requires a day or more of feeding. It is still worth a quick assessment, because people often underestimate attachment time, and the pharmacist can help you reconstruct it.
Should I bring the tick with me?
Yes, if you have it. Identifying whether it is a blacklegged tick, and whether it is engorged, directly informs the risk assessment. A sealed bag or pill bottle works fine, and a clear photo is better than nothing.
Can you assess my child's tick bite on a Sunday?
Call 416-789-1800 to confirm the day's hours before coming. Because the prevention window is measured in hours, mention the tick bite when you call and we will prioritize getting the assessment done in time.
What should I bring besides the tick?
Your health card, your medication list, and the best timeline you can reconstruct: when you were outdoors, when you found the tick, and when you removed it. Those hours drive the entire assessment.
Is the assessment covered by OHIP?
Yes, the tick bite assessment is covered with a valid Ontario health card. There is no charge for being told, honestly, that you do not need anything.
Can children and seniors be assessed after a tick bite?
Yes, and everyone should come in promptly given the 72-hour window. Young children and pregnancy involve extra referral checks, and for seniors the pharmacist reviews medications and health conditions as part of deciding whether prevention may be prescribed where appropriate.
How do I avoid tick bites in the first place?
Stick to the centre of trails, wear long sleeves and tuck pants into socks in brushy areas, use an approved insect repellent, and do a full-body tick check after time outdoors, including on children and pets. The Government of Ontario's tick guidance covers risk areas across the province.
What should I watch for in the weeks after a bite?
An expanding circular or bull's-eye rash, fever, chills, fatigue, muscle aches, or joint pain. Any of those means see a physician promptly, whether or not you received preventive treatment, and mention the tick bite when you do.
I found another tick a few weeks later. Do I start over?
Yes, each bite is assessed on its own 72-hour clock. Remove the tick the same careful way, save it, and come in again; a previous assessment or treatment does not carry over to a new bite.
Sources & further reading
Numbered references, linked from the sections above.
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416-789-1800 Call nowPrefer not to call? Email info@murrayshore.com or visit us at Bathurst & Baycrest.