A calm, step-by-step plan for what to do after a tick bite — from safe removal to monitoring for symptoms.
There's a specific feeling that comes with parting your dog's fur and seeing something that shouldn't be there. Or running your fingers along the back of your kid's neck at bath time and finding a bump that doesn't belong.
Your stomach drops. Then your brain starts sprinting.
Finding and removing an attached tick promptly is important. The risk of Lyme disease transmission generally increases the longer an infected blacklegged tick remains attached, but transmission timelines vary among different tickborne pathogens. Once you’ve found a tick, the next step is to remove it as soon as possible and keep track of information about the bite.
Now here's exactly what to do next, in order.
Step 1: Remove it, right now, correctly
Don't wait to gather supplies you don't have. Fine-tipped tweezers are all you need.
- ✅ Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Get the mouthparts, not the body.
- ✅ Pull straight up, steady and even. No twisting, no jerking, no yanking.
- ✅ If a piece stays behind, that's okay. Try to remove it with the tweezers. If you can't, leave it and let the skin heal. Digging causes more damage than the fragment does.
- ✅ Clean the bite with rubbing alcohol and wash your hands.
Avoid trying to remove an attached tick with petroleum jelly, heat, nail polish or other substances. The CDC recommends removing the tick promptly with tweezers rather than waiting for it to detach on its own.
Step 2: Don't throw it away
If you want to keep the tick for identification or testing, store it after removal.
Place the tick in a sealed bag or container. If you plan to have it tested, follow the storage and handling instructions provided by the testing service.
Then write down three things:
- The date you removed it
- Where on the body you found it
- Your best estimate of how long it was attached — when were you last in tick habitat? Woods, tall grass, leaf litter, a backyard edge, a dog park?
Your best estimate of attachment time can provide useful information after a tick bite. Write it down and share it with a healthcare provider if you have concerns about the bite.
Take a photo too. Species matters, and a photo outlasts a tick that gets lost in a junk drawer.
Step 3: Assess the risk honestly
Not all tick bites are equal. Three factors drive most of the risk:
Species. Black-legged ticks — deer ticks — are the ones that carry Lyme disease, along with babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and Powassan virus. Lone star ticks carry different things, including the trigger for alpha-gal syndrome. American dog ticks carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Different tick, different conversation.
Attachment time. The risk of Lyme disease transmission generally increases the longer an infected blacklegged tick remains attached. Different tickborne pathogens can have different transmission timelines, which is another reason to remove attached ticks as soon as possible.
Location. Where a tick bite occurred can help a healthcare provider assess potential exposure because the prevalence of Lyme disease and different tick species varies geographically.
Step 4: The 72-hour window — call a doctor if any of this applies
If you’re concerned about a tick bite, contact a healthcare provider. In certain circumstances, preventive antibiotics may be considered after a blacklegged tick bite, and timing can be important. A healthcare provider can determine whether treatment is appropriate based on the details of the bite.
Call if:
- It was a black-legged tick, in an area where Lyme is common
- It had been attached roughly 36 hours or longer
- You're not sure about the species or the timeline
- The person bitten is a young child, pregnant, or immunocompromised
- Anything about it worries you
That last one counts. "I'm worried" is a legitimate reason to call.
Step 5: Consider testing the tick
If you saved the tick, testing can provide information about whether certain pathogens were detected in that tick. Tick testing does not determine whether a pathogen was transmitted to the person or pet that was bitten.
Two paths. Mail-in laboratories — TickReport, the PA Tick Research Lab, Ticknology, Upstate Tick Testing Laboratory — run broad PCR panels, usually starting around $59, with results in roughly 24 hours to a week after the tick arrives. Great breadth, but shipping eats into your window.
Rapid at-home testing trades breadth for speed. TiCK TEST analyzes the removed tick for Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, in about 10 minutes. Place the tick in the device, add buffer, turn the grinder, add buffer again, cap, and read. Positive can appear as early as 5 minutes; negative confirmed at 10. It's $34.99, and initial testing showed greater than 99% accuracy, with validation studies underway with Dr. Monica Embers at Tulane and Dr. Tom Mather at URI.
One thing to hold onto: A tick-test result is not a medical diagnosis. A positive result means the pathogen being tested for was detected in the tick; it does not establish that transmission occurred. A negative result should not be used to rule out infection. The CDC advises against using tick-testing results to make treatment decisions. If you have concerns about a tick bite or develop symptoms, contact a healthcare provider.
Step 6: Watch, for several weeks
Continue to monitor for symptoms in the weeks after a tick bite, regardless of a tick-test result. Seek medical care if symptoms develop.
Seek care promptly if you notice:
- An expanding rash, especially one that spreads outward from the bite
- Fever or chills
- Headache
- Unusual fatigue
- Muscle or joint aches, or a swollen joint
- Facial weakness
Not everyone with Lyme disease develops the same symptoms or rash appearance, so don’t rely on a classic “bullseye” rash alone when deciding whether to seek care.
And if it was your dog: watch for lethargy, limping that seems to move between legs, reduced appetite, or reluctance to jump. Dogs often show up weeks later with joint symptoms. Mention the bite to your vet.
The step that comes before all of these
Everything on this page happens after a tick bite. Regular tick checks after spending time outdoors can help you find loose, crawling ticks before they attach and identify attached ticks sooner.
TiCK MiTT is a reusable, chemical-free tick-checking mitt designed to help catch loose, crawling ticks from skin, clothing and pet fur before they attach. It can be incorporated into your post-outdoor tick-check routine.
We built it after Lyme disease came through our own family. Not to make you afraid of the outside. To make sure the outside stays yours. 🌲
More reading: Can You Test a Tick for Lyme Disease? · How Long Does a Tick Have to Be Attached to Transmit Lyme Disease? · Tick & Lyme Disease Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do immediately after finding a tick?
Remove it promptly with fine-tipped tweezers, grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible and pulling upward with steady, even pressure. After removal, clean the bite area and your hands. If you choose to save the tick for identification or testing, place it in a sealed container and follow any storage instructions provided by the testing service.
How long do I have to act after a tick bite?
Remove an attached tick as soon as possible. If you’re concerned about the bite, contact a healthcare provider promptly. In certain circumstances, preventive antibiotics may be considered after a blacklegged tick bite, and timing can be important. A healthcare provider can determine whether treatment is appropriate based on the details of the bite.
Should I save the tick after removing it?
You can save the tick if you want it identified or tested. Place it in a sealed bag or container and note the date it was removed. If you plan to have the tick tested, follow the storage and handling instructions provided by the testing service.
Can I get Lyme disease if the tick was only attached a few hours?
Lyme disease transmission is less likely when an infected tick has been attached for a shorter period of time, and risk increases the longer the tick remains attached. However, attachment time can be difficult to estimate, and different tickborne pathogens can have different transmission timelines. Remove attached ticks as soon as possible and monitor for symptoms after a tick bite.
What if I found the tick on my dog?
Remove the tick promptly using fine-tipped tweezers, grasping it as close to the skin as possible and pulling upward with steady, even pressure. Check the rest of your dog carefully for additional ticks. If you have concerns about the bite or notice changes in your dog’s health or behavior, contact your veterinarian.
Do I need to see a doctor for every tick bite?
Not every tick bite requires medical treatment, but contact a healthcare provider if you develop symptoms, are unsure about the type of tick or how long it may have been attached, or have concerns about the bite. A healthcare provider can evaluate your individual circumstances and determine whether any additional steps are appropriate.
Updated: September 2026
