The Dangers of Tick Paralysis for Australia's East Coast Pets
Flea, tick and worm preventatives are an essential investment in preventing long-term health concerns and expensive veterinary procedures for pets. It is especially important to remain up to date on tick paralysis preventatives on the East Coast of Australia, even if your furry ones don’t stray far from your yard.
This 9-minute video gives an excellent overview of appearance, treatment and preventatives for ticks:
What is tick paralysis?
🕷Tick Paralysis is a serious and potentially lethal condition requiring emergency veterinary care
🕷 The neurotoxins injected by the adult Australian Paralysis Tick parasite affect cats and dogs.
🕷As many as 10,000 pets receive urgent veterinary treatment, of the 100,000 domestic animals affected by tick paralysis annually.
🕷 If caught early, without complications, tick paralysis has an excellent survival rate of 95%. Should your pet deteriorate to require ventilator support, the survival rate drops to 50%.
🕷Tick preventatives currently have a very high rate of efficacy in preventing tick paralysis.
Where are Paralysis Ticks found?
🕷Bushy coastal areas on the East Coast of Australia, from North Queensland to Eastern Victoria.
🕷Usually prey on koalas, bandicoots, possums, but are attracted to the body heat of humans, dogs and cats, too.
🕷 Can drop from trees or jump onto pets from long grasses, mulch piles and compost.
Types of ticks and their general distribution in Australia.
Source: Virbac Animal Health
When are Paralysis Ticks Active?
🕷Most active from August to February, when adults moult into their final adult stage, during which they produce the most toxins.
🕷More active after rainfall in warm weather.
🕷However, cases of tick paralysis can occur year-round, including in winter.
🕷 Global warming, changing weather patterns and increasing numbers of possums and bandicoots, may be contributing to an increase in cases of tick paralysis in recent years.
What do paralysis ticks look like?
🕷Silver-greenish, with two pairs of brown legs closest to their head and body, and two pairs of white legs in between
🕷Adults range from pinhead size, to the size of a sultana raisin or a coffee bean when engorged from feeding on your pet.
🕷The bigger the tick is, the longer it has been feeding on your pet and the higher the risk of paralysis.
Source: AVSL
How do ticks give pets tick paralysis?
🕷Ticks burrow their mouth-parts into the skin of their prey.
🕷They can be found anywhere on the body, including ears, lips and anus.
🕷They are especially difficult to find on long-haired pets.
🕷Multiple ticks can attach to one animal.
🕷In their juvenile stage, they can cause an intense, painful itch.
🕷 In their adult stage, the female releases a neurotoxin which causes serious symptoms, generally after it has been attached for 3-4 days.
🕷The neurotoxin in the tick’s saliva disrupts the connection between the nerves and muscles in animals, causing eventual paralysis and difficulty breathing.
What are symptoms of tick paralysis?
Weakness or lethargy
Lack of coordination, beginning with hind limbs, ascending to forelimbs and collapse in later stages
Rapid, shallow breathing in beginning stages and slower, exaggerated breathing pattern in late stages
Altered bark or meow
Increased risk of aspiration pneumonia (inhaling food, saliva or vomit into the lungs), resulting in laboured breathing and foul breath
Drooling, retching and regurgitation
If attached near the eye, the animal may cease blinking, which dries out and damages eyes. If attached near the anus, it may affect their ability to pass urine or stools.
Left untreated, the outcome is often, if not usually, fatal.
What should I do if my pet shows signs of tick paralysis?
If you do find a tick on your pet:
Take a clear picture of the tick on your pet and send it to your Vet immediately if you are unsure.
Contact your vet immediately, or the emergency vet after hours - do not wait until the next morning. Your vet will guide you as to whether your pet requires an emergency appointment.
Remove the tick carefully, using a tick hook or tweezers (video instructions here). Pinch off and twist gently, counterclockwise, where the tick is attached to the skin - pinching the tick’s body risks releasing more toxins and leaving the head embedded in the skin.
Drown the tick in isopropyl alcohol in a jar and bring it with your pet to the vet’s appointment.
Remain calm, and keep your pet quiet and cool. Ticks feed more avidly in warm temperatures, and stress or agitation can exacerbate your dog’s symptoms.
Remove all food and water. The toxins affect your pet’s ability to protect their airway when they swallow, and they may aspirate food or water into their lungs, causing complications.
Follow your vet’s instructions - If your vet recommends bringing your pet in, do so immediately, continuing to keep your pet as calm as possible.
How do I prevent tick paralysis?
Even on a restricted budget, tick prevention should be one of the essential aspects of your pet’s health routine. Curing tick paralysis can be excessively stressful to you and your pet, not to mention very costly in terms of treatment. Regular prevention can do so much for you and your pet’s well-being, peace of mind and health.
Anti-parasite preventatives - Your vet will help you select a parasite preventative, which can be administered as a chew, a topical application or a pill. These treatments last between 1 - 6 months, so be sure to stay up to date. Some preventatives, such as Nexgard Spectra, target fleas, ticks and worms all in one. It is especially important to provide cat-specific preventatives to felines, as dog-appropriate treatments may be extremely toxic to them.
Remember - while preventatives are very efficient, no preventative is 100% guaranteed, and it is always best to contact your veterinarian if you find a paralysis tick on your pet.
Tick search - If you live in a tick-prone area, groom your pet regularly, and opt for a shorter clip in summer on long-haired breeds. During routine at-home pet health checks, check for ticks daily. Carefully comb through your pet’s fur with your fingers or use a blow-dryer to see down to the skin.
First Aid Kit - Vets, pet stores and online stores carry affordable tick hooks or twisters, but tweezers will also work in a pinch. Sterile swabs and isopropyl alcohol should also be included to swab the bite site after removal. A small container such as a pill bottle, is useful to drown the tick in alcohol and bring it to your vet.
Pet Insurance - If you live in a tick-prone area, pet insurance is a good measure to ease financial stress in case of emergency. Check what your policy covers in case of tick paralysis, and other conditions. If pet insurance is not right for you, try to set aside a small amount every month into a savings account in case of veterinary emergencies.
Yard maintenance - Keep your pet contained to an area away from compost, mulch, or long grasses. Provide a shade or awning to provide a rest area that is not under a tree. Avoid walks in long grasses or bushland, or check thoroughly for ticks after walking in these areas.
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