Hope you're move goes well. I have three dogs. They've all been vaccinated against Lyme. It's a series of two shots. I only use flea/tick topical meds in spring and summer. My vet recommends heartworm medication year round. I have yard and live in a wooded area and I've yet to have a tick latch onto me. I also do quite a bit of hiking in the Whites and never had a tick bite. If you do get a bite and see redness around the bite, physician's will prescribe antibiotics. That's been my experience but others may have different experiences with these nasty insects.