As we approach the warmer season, animal experts are warning dog owners to be on alert for ticks.
A combination of hot and wet weather conditions is the perfect breeding ground for ticks.
In Australia, more than 10,000 pets are rushed to the hospital after being bitten by ticks annually. The consequences of tick bites are serious, although they are also easily preventable.
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The Australian Paralysis Tick Advisory Panel has revealed only about 50% of all Aussie dogs living in paralysis ticks areas are taking tick preventative measures. This figure is down from 55% just two years ago.
Member of the panel, Dr Heather Russell, is urging dog owners to take preventative measures for their pets against ticks. She is also a veterinarian at the Northside Emergency Veterinary Service in New South Wales.
Tick on a dog. Credit: Northside Emergency Veterinary Service
“Not protecting your pets against ticks all year round is a matter of life and death”, Dr Russell says.
“Tick paralysis can be fatal, and I’ve already seen way too many preventable cases at my clinic this year,” she says. “That’s why it’s important for pet owners to be using effective tick control products to protect their furry friends.”
A tick’s favourite hiding spots.
While veterinarians encourage all dog owners to protect their dogs regardless of where they live, there are some regions with a higher risk of ticks.
Dense bushlands near bodies of water such as rivers, lakes and ocean pose a greater risk of tick bites.
Dense bushland areas around bodies of water pose a greater risk of ticks.
Paralysis ticks and bush ticks are mostly found along Australia’s east coast.
Brown dog ticks are more widely found throughout Australia. The ticks can be found in all of Australia’s eastern states as well as the Northern Territory and South Australia. Some areas along the Western Australian coast are also considered hotspots for brown dog ticks.
Signs of tick bites.
Dr Russell is also encouraging pets owners to learn about the signs of tick bites so they can easily recognise them. While signs of tick paralysis can vary, the common symptoms include:
- Heavy breathing, such as grunting, panting, and noisy breathing
- Coughing
- Gagging and vomiting
- Weakness (especially back legs) and loss of body coordination
- Change or loss of voice (becomes softer or changes pitch)
- Appearing generally unwell
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Checking for ticks
If you notice that your dog has tick paralysis symptoms, you may also want to check if they still have ticks on their body. You can also do this as a daily preventative measure, but it should not replace other preventative tick treatments such as chewable tablets.
To check your dog for ticks, gently move your fingers under their coats and against the skin. You should be feeling for any bumps.
If your dog is wearing a collar, make sure to remove it so you can search under the collar area as well. Start at their head and work your way down towards their neck.
Make sure to also check the areas around their mouth as well as their ears. Next, gently work your way down their front legs, checking their toes and their paws as well as the gaps between their toes.
Once you check their front legs, work your way down their body: go down their back, belly, tail, and their hind legs.
It’s important to ensure that our pets are safe and protected from ticks, as the consequences can be deadly.
