Dr Mark warns of the dangers of Paralysis Ticks.
Unfortunately we are entering a bad time of the year for Paralysis ticks. Paralysis ticks (Ixodes holocyclus) are a major problem especially along the eastern coast of Australia. They cause severe cardiac, respiratory and muscle weakness, eventually killing their prey after only 4-5 days of attachment. This tick is native to Australia and most native animals which live in tick areas have some immunity to the paralysis tick toxin. Introduced species such as dogs, cats, horses, cattle and sheep have no natural immunity and are very susceptible to the tick poison.
In previous years, rain after an extended dry period has brought out the paralysis ticks in large numbers. In many parts of Australia we have had a mild winter, coupled with warming temperatures and the start of the rain season, this year looks to be particularly bad year for these parasites. Tick season tends run from August to February, with the worst months Oct to Dec. Paralysis tick poisoning in pets is fatal in most cases if not treated. Signs to look out for include a change in vocalization (barking or meowing), breathing and difficulty in walking. An ascending paralysis over 24 to 48 hours leads to the death of the affected animal.
Paralysis ticks also cause number of different serious problems in humans ranging from allergic reactions, paralysing toxicity and the transmission of infectious diseases.
Tick paralysis can be successfully treated if animals are treated early enough however treatment is often very involved and can be expensive. In the case of ticks prevention is definitely the best form of defense.
There are other ticks in Australia which don't cause such serious problems eg bush ticks, cattle ticks. These ticks are generally of less concern but in areas where they are located, pets should still be regularly treated with a preventative such as Frontline Plus or Advantix.
Symptoms of Tick Paralysis
The earliest signs often suggest that your pet has something caught in its throat or the back legs are not working properly. They may cough, gag or have a wobbly walk. Other commonly noticed changes are vomiting, heavy breathing with a grunt and alteration to your pet's vocal sounds.
While signs vary from patient to patient the usual course is a progressive paralysis with subsequent loss of use of first back and then front legs. Some animals, especially cats, may become distressed, anxious and confused. Eventually there is an inability to breathe in enough oxygen as the lungs develop congestion and chest muscles become paralysed.
When animals are fully paralysed, the chances of saving them are greatly reduced.
If you think your pet has a tick, do not give anything by mouth.
- Contact your vet immediately
- Keep your pet cool and as calm as possible.
- Remove the tick(s) immediately and take to the vet with your cat or dog.
Tick prevention
Whichever product is being used by pet owners, basic daily searching must be carried out as no single product guarantees 100% protection against paralysis ticks.
For the best protection available Dr Mark recommends to dog owners in high danger areas, as well as daily searching, they use a combination of products such as Frontline Spray, Frontline Plus or Advantix applied every 2 weeks and a tick collar such as the Preventic Collar.
Cat owners in high risk areas should, in addition to daily searching, use Frontline Spray every 3 weeks. For those cats that won’t be sprayed, there is no real effective preventative available but we still recommend Frontline Plus for Cats. This product has no actual claim for prevention of ticks in cats, but it appears to work quite well when applied every 14 days.
Long haired dogs or cats in high risk areas should be clipped in early Spring as some of these products have trouble spreading through thick or matted coats leaving areas where ticks can hide.
Do not apply methylated spirits, kerosene or turps to any tick you find attached. Recent studies have shown that pets recover better if the live tick is quickly pulled out of the skin using a fine pair of forceps or a tick remover. Applying methylated spirits, turps, kerosene etc. appears to irritate the tick causing it to release more poison before it dies.
There is no absolute protection against ticks. Dr Mark recommends that you:
- Avoid the tick habitat if possible.
- Search your pet every day for ticks.
- Use one or more preventatives outlined above.