is appropriate, your pharmacist may prescribe the medication on the spot, helping you get timely care. To help prevent tick bites, wear long sleeves and pants in wooded or grassy areas, use insect repellents containing DEET or Icaridin, stay on marked trails, and perform a full-body tick check after spending time outdoors. Pets should also be checked regularly. If you find a tick attached to your skin, remove it promptly with fine- tipped tweezers and clean the area thoroughly. Tick removal kits that use a freezing canister to immobilize the tick before removal may also be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If you have concerns about Lyme disease prevention, visit your local Pharmasave pharmacy as soon as possible. Ontario pharmacists can now also dispense veterinary medications when presented with a valid prescription from a licensed veterinarian. Ask our pharmacy team about it today.
Ontario Pharmacists Can Prescribe Tick Bite Prevention Medication After Exposure by Trina Tomita, Pharmacist/Owner Komoka Kilworth Pharmasave As warmer weather brings more time outdoors, Ontarians face an increased risk of tick bites. Blacklegged ticks, which can carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, are becoming more common across Ontario, including Southwestern Ontario. Through Ontario’s Minor Ailment Program, pharmacists can now assess certain tick bites and prescribe preventive antibiotic treatment when appropriate. At Pharmasave, this means faster, more convenient access to care. Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is spread through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. Early symptoms may include fever, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, and a bull’s-eye rash. If left untreated, Lyme disease can sometimes lead to more serious health complications. In some cases, a preventive antibiotic can help reduce the risk of developing Lyme disease after a high-risk tick bite. This treatment is most effective when started within 72 hours of tick removal and when specific clinical criteria are met. Your Pharmasave pharmacist can assess your tick exposure by asking questions about where the bite occurred, how long the tick may have been attached, whether it was removed completely, and whether any symptoms are present. If treatment
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Veterinary Prescriptions Filled: Ontario pharmicists can dispense many veterinary medications with a prescription from your veterinarian. 22635 Komoka Rd, Komoka (519) 474-7979 www.komokapharmasave.ca
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KKD Villager July/August 2026
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