F.A.Q.

A tick usually needs to be attached for 24 hours or more to transmit Lyme disease bacteria. When you find a tick on yourself or your child, your first response might be panic. After all, you’ve probably heard of Lyme disease and all the unpleasant symptoms that come along with it. But understanding the transmission timeline can help you respond calmly and appropriately to protect your family.

Dogs don’t show a bullseye rash. The most common sign is shifting-leg lameness, where your dog limps on one leg for a few days, then shifts to limping on a different leg. If you’ve been spending time outside with your dog in Hingham’s parks or wooded areas, watching for Lyme disease symptoms is important. Dogs are vulnerable to the same deer ticks that bite people, and they can fall ill with Lyme disease just like humans can. However, dogs don’t show the telltale bullseye rash, which can make detecting the disease trickier. Scarier still, symptoms often don’t appear until two to five months after the initial tick bite.

Yes. Pfizer and Valneva announced Phase 3 trial results in March 2026 for a Lyme disease vaccine candidate called VLA15, showing more than 70% efficacy in people ages five and older.

Ticks can start biting as early as temperatures reach the mid-30s in Massachusetts. The season often starts in March, and peak activity runs from April through September, with a second spike in October and November for adult deer ticks.

Yes, seeing even one mouse means there are probably more.

For most homes, quarterly treatments provide the best year-round protection.