Tick Tock! Act Fast When Feeling Sick After a Tick Bite

The first few days after a tick bite are the most important to watch for Lyme disease symptoms, which tend to be similar to the flu.

Walking on the beaten path avoids ticks. Good dog!

When caught early and treated, Lyme disease can often be stopped in its tracks. (The tips below can help you stop those darn ticks in their tracks, too!)

Be sure to contact your doctor as quickly as can be if you know you’ve been bitten and feel any signs of sickness.

Easy Ways to Avoid Tick Bites

The only thing better than a cure is prevention.

• Walk in the center of trails instead of the edges. Sunnier areas are less likely to harbor ticks.
• Use an insect repellent on your skin and clothing.
• Wear long pants, tucked into your socks.
• Strip down and dry your clothes on high heat once you’re home to fry any hangers-on.
• If you plan to hike off the beaten path in shady wet areas, look into shoes and socks treated with Permethrin which LymeDisease.org says increases protection from tick bites.
• Lastly, check your dogs for ticks before rolling around with them after a walk in the woods. (This is a note-to-self for the doctor as well.) A few ways to remove ticks include tweezers or tick keys.

More About Lyme Disease

Remember, it’s important to get advice quickly after a tick bite rather than worrying, waiting, or self-medicating — especially if a red area forms around the bite.

For more info:

• How to remove ticks
• Typical Lyme disease symptoms
• Mayo Clinic guide to Lyme disease prevention
• Maine’s tick reference guide

This dog should be wearing long pants tucked into boots!