Information on how to use personal insect repellents licensed in Canada

For example, performing a tick check on a dog with thick curly hair, or keeping an outdoor cat away from long grass is not always realistic!

Keep in mind the Lyme disease vaccine does not protect against other emerging tick-borne diseases, so tick prevention methods will still be important.

The number of reported cases of anaplasmosis in Canada has been increasing in the last few years. The bacteria causing anaplasmosis in humans, dogs and cats is different to the one causing disease in cattle.

Acaricides are substances which are harmful to ticks, just as insecticides are harmful to insects.

Key areas to check

Key areas to check in infants and young children are the head, hair and ears.

The act of hunting can mean individuals are spending more time in tick habitats. Furthermore, deer are important hosts for the blacklegged tick, and visiting areas where deer are abundant may increase exposure to ticks. While deer play an important role in the life cycle of ticks, they do not get infected with Lyme disease. Therefore, people cannot be infected with Lyme disease by eating meat from deer.

Ticks prefer habitats which are damp. They generally do not survive in habitats which are hot and dry.

Depending on where you live and your specific concern, you may be able to receive assistance by contacting your provincial health telephone line, local physician, nurse, pharmacist, veterinarian or hospital emergency room.

The tick pierces the skin and embeds itself using barbed mouthparts. Rapidly pulling out the tick may lead to the barbed mouthparts being retained in the skin. The following photos show the barbed mouthparts in two different species of tick.

Image attributions: Blacklegged tick (palps closed): Susan Ellis via Insect Images, CC BY 3.0 US. Australian paralysis tick (not present in Canada, palps open): Pests and Diseases Image Library via Insect Images, CC BY-NC 3.0 US

It is possible that pets can bring ticks into the home, however ticks will usually prefer to stay on an animal than to move onto a human. Once a tick has fed on a pet, it will detach and look for a place where it can transform to another life stage or lay eggs. If a tick falls on the ground in your home, it will most probably die, as the environment is too dry and unfavourable for them. It is very unlikely that it will bite another person or pet after that.

When are ticks out?

Ticks are usually active above 4°C/30°F. Depending on where you live, ticks may be seasonal (e.g., from April or November), or they may be active all year. You can know when ticks have been found in your region by checking the real-time map on eTick.

The behaviour ticks use to attach to an animal or host is called questing. Using their back legs to hold onto tall foliage or grass, they stretch out their front legs, waiting to climb onto a passing host.

Image attribution: allysonv via iNaturalist, CC BY-NC 4.0

In general, ticks are active when the temperature is above 4°C (39°F). However, be aware that local microclimates in tick habitats can mean that ticks are active while ambient temperatures are less than 4°C.

Permethrin-treated clothing

Permethrin-treated clothing offers protection against ticks and mosquitos. This clothing has been used by the military for several decades and is approved for individuals over the age of 16 years. Permethrin-treated clothing is suitable for women who are pregnant or nursing, however it is recommended that women do not wear the clothing while nursing to avoid putting infants in contact with the product. For more information on how to use permethrin-treated clothing, consult this Public Health Agency of Canada webpage.

Cependant...

Il n’existe pas de répulsif pour les bébés de moins de 6 mois. Une moustiquaire peut être utilisée comme un imperméable pour protéger le bébé (par exemple, au-dessus de la poussette ou du berceau).

	Baby less than 6 months old	Child from 6 months to 2 years old	Child from 2 years to 12 years old	Pregnant or breastfeeding women	People over 12 years old
DEET	No bug repellent is recommended for babies less than 6 months of age. This includes ‘natural’ products. Instead, protect your baby with long clothing and place a mosquito net over the baby’s stroller, crib, or carrier .	Concentration: up to 10% Protection: 3 hours or less Application: 1 time per day maximum Do not use daily for more than one month	Concentration: up to 10% Protection: 3 hours or less Application: 3 times per day maximum Do not use daily for more than one month	Concentration: up to 30% Protection: 6 hours or less (depending on concentration) Application: 2 times per day maximum	Concentration: up to 30% Protection: 6 hours or less (depending on concentration) Application: dependent on protection time and needs
Icaridin		Concentration: up to 20% Protection: 3-5 hours (10%), 8-10 hours (20%) Application: depending on protection time and needs	Concentration: up to 20% Protection: 3-5 hours (10%), 8-10 hours (20%) Application: depending on protection time and needs	Concentration: up to 20% Protection: 3-5 hours (10%), 8-10 hours (20%) Application: 2 times per day maximum	Concentration: up to 20% Protection: 3-5 hours (10%), 8-10 hours (20%) Application: depending on protection time and needs
		Apply only to body parts which are exposed. Do not apply near eyes, mouth, or hands. Avoid applying on damaged skin or mucous membranes . Apply sunscreen before applying bug repellant.

E.g., keeping the grass short and removing leaf litter and brush.

Ultimately, the product which will work best is one within your budget, that you feel comfortable using throughout the year and that you will remember to use! Setting up reminders throughout the year can be very helpful.

However...

There is no bug repellent available for babies under 6 months of age. A mosquito net can be used like a rain cover to protect the baby (e.g., over the stroller or crib).

Tips for checks

It can be helpful to have a full-length mirror, a handheld mirror, and lint roller where you will be conducting the checks. Identifying a tick can be made easier with a magnifying glass, or taking a digital photo and zooming in.

How small can they be ?

Nymphs can be mistaken for moles or freckles as they are so small

How long to dry clothes at high heat ?

10 minutes: It will need to be longer if clothes are wet.

How often to do tick-checks ?

How frequently you perform a tick-check depends on your comfort level and type of activity. If you are working outdoors all day, you may choose to perform a brief tick check at each break and a thorough tick check at the end of the day. If you are going on a short hike, you may choose to perform one thorough tick check when you return home. Of course, you can also keep an eye out for ticks throughout the activity.

	Baby less than 6 months old	Child from 6 months to 2 years old	Child from 2 years to 12 years old	Pregnant or breastfeeding women	People over 12 years old
DEET	No bug repellent is recommended for babies less than 6 months of age. This includes ‘natural’ products. Instead, protect your baby with long clothing and place a mosquito net over the baby’s stroller, crib, or carrier .	Concentration: up to 10% Protection: 3 hours or less Application: 1 time per day maximum Do not use daily for more than one month	Concentration: up to 10% Protection: 3 hours or less Application: 3 times per day maximum Do not use daily for more than one month	Concentration: up to 30% Protection: 6 hours or less (depending on concentration) Application: 2 times per day maximum	Concentration: up to 30% Protection: 6 hours or less (depending on concentration) Application: dependent on protection time and needs
Icaridin		Concentration: up to 20% Protection: 3-5 hours (10%), 8-10 hours (20%) Application: depending on protection time and needs	Concentration: up to 20% Protection: 3-5 hours (10%), 8-10 hours (20%) Application: depending on protection time and needs	Concentration: up to 20% Protection: 3-5 hours (10%), 8-10 hours (20%) Application: 2 times per day maximum	Concentration: up to 20% Protection: 3-5 hours (10%), 8-10 hours (20%) Application: depending on protection time and needs
		Apply only to body parts which are exposed. Do not apply near eyes, mouth, or hands. Avoid applying on damaged skin or mucous membranes . Apply sunscreen before applying bug repellant.