How should I remove an attached tick?
Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, pull slowly straight out, then wash the bite area and your hands.
01 The after-bite plan
A tick bite shouldn’t leave you wondering what to do next.
AfterTick connects Ontario residents with a licensed clinician for a timely review, a personalized next-step plan, and prescription care when medically appropriate.
If you just found a tick
- 1 Remove it promptly with fine-tipped tweezers.
- 2 Save a clear photo and note where you were.
- 3 Get medical guidance if you’re unsure.
New or severe symptoms? Seek urgent medical care.
Q Quick answers after a tick bite
What should you do after finding a tick in Ontario?
Remove the tick promptly, record the details and get medical guidance if you feel unwell or are concerned.
What details should I save?
Keep the tick in a sealed container if possible, or take a clear photo. Record the date, location, likely attachment time and any symptoms.
When should I contact a clinician?
Seek medical guidance if you feel unwell, develop a spreading rash, fever or flu-like symptoms, or are concerned about the exposure.
Does AfterTick prevent Lyme disease?
No. AfterTick provides access to clinician assessment and supportive care when appropriate. It does not promise Lyme disease prevention or replace established treatment.
General guidance summarized from the Public Health Agency of Canada and Public Health Ontario. Updated August 20, 2026.
02 Watch first
A calm, clear briefing for the moment after a bite.
Press play for a clear, six-part guide to the role of clinician-led supportive care after a bite.
Field note 01
You found a tick.
Now what?
Don’t panic. Start with the basics.
Field note 02
Remove it. Record it.
Keep the details.
Timing, location and a photo help tell the story.
Field note 03
Targeted local support
can play a role.
When medically appropriate, a clinician may consider a compounded prescription topical for the bite site.
Field note 04
Early laboratory data.
Clearly limited.
Artificial-membrane permeation data are an early signal—not evidence from human trials.
Field note 05
Supportive care is not
a substitute for care.
It has not been shown to prevent Lyme disease or replace oral antibiotics when indicated.
Field note 06
Get a clinician’s eyes
on the full picture.
AfterTick turns uncertainty into a clear plan.
Tap any chapter to jump ahead.
Have a bite you’re concerned about?
Let a licensed clinician review the full picture.
Start your consult
03 The moment after matters
The internet can give you a hundred answers. You need the one that fits your bite.
Not every tick is the same.
Species, geography, time attached and local risk all help a clinician understand the exposure.
Not every reaction means the same thing.
Redness, irritation and new symptoms need context—not a late-night image search.
And itch relief isn’t a risk assessment.
Over-the-counter bite products may soothe irritation. They don’t replace clinician guidance after a tick exposure.
04 Evidence without overpromising
A clear role.
Clear limits.
The product materials position the compounded topical as supportive local care while arranging professional evaluation—not as a stand-alone answer.
Designed for local application.
The prescription topical is intended for application at the bite site when a clinician determines it is appropriate.
A first step, not the whole plan.
Its stated role is supportive care while professional assessment is being arranged, including in outdoor or remote settings.
Laboratory signal, not human proof.
Permeation was measured through a synthetic membrane—not human skin, bite wounds or patients. No human clinical trials have been completed.
The important limit
It has not been shown to prevent Lyme disease.
Supportive topical care does not replace prompt medical evaluation or prescribed oral antibiotics when those are indicated.
05 How AfterTick works
From “I found a tick” to “I know my next step.”
One focused path, built for the questions that show up after a bite.
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1
Share the exposure
Tell us what happened.
Answer a focused intake about the tick, timing, location, removal and any symptoms. Add a photo if you have one.
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2
Clinical review
A licensed clinician assesses the details.
Your situation is reviewed against current clinical guidance, your health history and the information you provide.
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3
Your next step
Get a personalized care plan.
Receive clear guidance. If prescription treatment is medically appropriate, the clinician can explain your options and next steps.
One focused intake. One clinician-led next step.
Not sure what your bite needs?
06 Built for real life
Keep the adventure.
Lose the guesswork.
At the cottage, on the trail or hours from your usual clinic, AfterTick gives you a defined path from finding a tick to professional review.
07 A different kind of after-bite care
Relief for the spot is not the same as a plan for the bite.
AfterTick is built around a clinician’s assessment—not a one-size-fits-all answer.
Your next step
Personal assessment
Clear follow-up plan
Rx care if appropriate
Search and wait
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OTC bite relief
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AfterTickclinician consult
✓
✓
✓
08 Expert Canadian care
Expert Canadian Care
AfterTick is supported by Canadian medical leadership through Stealth Health.
Dr. Khalid Tahir is an internal medicine and critical care physician at Georgian Bay General Hospital in Midland, Ontario, and serves as Stealth Health’s Chief Medical Officer. A McMaster University graduate, he brings more than a decade of experience caring for patients with complex and critical conditions.
- Medical leadership
- Chief Medical Officer
- Clinical practice
- Internal medicine & critical care
- Canadian training
- McMaster University · 2013
Your intake is reviewed by the licensed clinician assigned to your care. Completing an intake does not guarantee treatment or a prescription.
09 Good questions
Before you begin.
Is AfterTick an emergency service?
No. If you have trouble breathing, facial swelling, fainting, rapidly worsening symptoms or another medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. A spreading rash, fever or new flu-like symptoms after a tick bite also warrant prompt medical care.
Does every tick bite need prescription treatment?
No. A clinician considers the full exposure and your health history before recommending care. Completing an intake does not guarantee a prescription.
Is the supportive topical proven to prevent Lyme disease?
No. The product materials describe laboratory permeation testing through a synthetic membrane, not human trials. Those results do not establish prevention or treatment in patients.
Does it replace oral antibiotics or a medical assessment?
No. Supportive topical care is not a substitute for professional evaluation or prescribed oral antibiotics when those are indicated.
What if I no longer have the tick?
You can still share what you remember, including where you were, when the bite may have happened and any photos or symptoms. A clinician will decide whether there is enough information to advise you.
Can I prepare before a future bite?
You can begin by sharing your situation. A clinician will determine which options, if any, are appropriate under current prescribing rules. Availability may vary by person and province.
Where is AfterTick available?
The initial service is designed for Ontario residents. Eligibility is confirmed during intake.
10 Your next step
Found a tick?
Let’s make a plan.
Start with a short, private intake. A licensed clinician will review your details and guide you from there.
Start your consult
Not a guarantee of treatment or a prescription. Eligibility and care are determined by a licensed clinician.