Tick Prevention

The paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus) occurs mainly along the coast of eastern Australia, however it may also be found further inland in valleys and forested areas. If you are planning to spend your Easter break in these high-risk areas, the best possible advice regarding ticks is to avoid them- do not walk your dogs in bush areas. Perform a thorough search of your dog's skin and coat at least once a day. Use the fingertips to feel through your dog's coat, ticks or tick craters which can be felt as lumps on skin surface. If a tick is found, quickly remove the tick by a vet or if veterinary attention is not available, remove the tick with a special tick key or tweezers, without squeezing the engorged abdomen. In addition to the daily search, apply a spot-on product such as Frontline Plus or Advantix for tick prevention every fortnight and use a tick collar to reduce the risk of tick paralysis during your trip. Signs of tick paralysis including lethargy, change of voice, vomiting, a grunt when breathing or staggering in the hind legs may occur as early as two days after the tick attachment. If left untreated, the paralysis progresses to the front legs and muscles associated with breathing and swallowing, and death eventually occurs due to respiratory arrest and aspiration pneumonia. Prevention is always better than cure!