PARALYSIS TICKS

The paralysis ticks have started turning up in high numbers again. Unfortunately in Cairns we see a lot of tick paralysis cases. Our lovely green strips of bush and parkland running through the city and suburbs are great areas for the bandicoots who are carriers for ticks. One paralysis tick can kill a horse so we need to be sure we keep our eyes peeled and our pets protected.

SYMPTOMS… If your pet gets a paralysis tick the main sign is “ascending paralysis” this is weakness starting in the hind legs progressing to paralysis of the hind legs and gradual paralysis of the whole body.

Other signs include: vomiting, difficulty breathing and a change in the voice.

If your pet gets a paralysis tick and develops symptoms it will need treatment with tick antivenom at your closest Vet( DON"T WAIT TILL THE MORNING!). If you find a paralysis tick but your pet is fine you need to remove the tick immediately,by parting the hair and using thumb and forefinger,quickly twist it out; commercial tick pullers are available at the clinic. The notion of killing the tick first is obsolete, in fact dangerous, as the tick struggles and injects more venom - making the onset of paralysis more rapid.

You must then watch your pet closely for two to three days before it is safe.

PREVENTION… It is very important we do our best to prevent ticks getting big enough on our pets to cause harm. We must therefore use something to kill the ticks on our pets.

CATS… The safest and most effective prevention for cats is either PROBAN tablets / liquid - this is given every second day or FRONTLINE applied every 2 weeks.

DOGS… Dogs have a much wider range of preventions available.

1. Advantix (strongly recomended) or Frontline every 2 weeks

2. Tablets – Proban every second day can’t be washed off your dog so is very effective if your dog regularly gets wet.

3. Tick Collars – There are two types:- Kiltix collars by Bayer (green box)  & Preventic Collars by Virbac (purple box) which both should be changed after 1 month, inspite of lable claims that they last longer.

4. Rinses – the two main types of rinses are Permethrins eg. PERMOXIN:- this is a synthetic pyrethoids safe for any dog over 12 weeks of age.

The rinses have the advantage of once a week dipping (beware no rinse lasts longer than 1 week). The main disadvantage of rinses is they wash off in water. So the next alternative….

No one prevention is 100% effective, we recommend using a combination of products and checking your pet every day.

Everybody’s situation is different, if you are unsure of which prevention is best for your pet please give us a call we are always happy to help.