TICK paralysis in dogs and cats is a nasty affliction and can lead to expensive vet bills, lasting health problems, and even death.
Many areas in the Hawkesbury are havens for ticks, which thrive near water and in scrubby conditions.
‘Tick season’ is usually classed from the beginning of Spring through Summer.
But this year’s increased rainfall and unusually temperate conditions meant ticks were out and about earlier.
Dr Greg Thompson, owner of Richmond and Wilberforce Vet Hospitals, said the rest of the season is shaping up to be the worst ever.
“The last few years we’ve been getting tick cases right through the year because the winters haven’t been particularly cold - there haven’t been any frosts - and there’s been enough rain for them to survive,” he said.
“It’s been getting worse and worse. This Spring has been the worst I can remember. Normally we’d have two dozen cases a year, but we’ve already had 20 cases so far this season.”
Dr Thompson said he wanted to alert pet-owners who live near moist areas like gullies, bush and creeks. He said the worst suburbs were Grose Vale, Grose Wold, Kurrajong Hills, Kurrajong Heights, and Yarramundi.
“But we’re getting cases in South Windsor, East Kurrajong, and Ebenezer - usually it’s too dry for them there but because of the conditions, they’re thriving,” Dr Thompson said.
He said ticks are spread by foxes and bandicoots, and as these populations increase, ticks are carried to different areas.
Dogs are more likely to present with tick paralysis, as cats are better at grooming themselves.
Ixodes holocyclus, commonly known as the Australian paralysis tick, can cause paralysis by injecting neurotoxins into its host while taking a blood meal. This toxin causes progressive paralysis of muscles throughout the body.
“Ixodes can even be dangerous to humans. They can be quite nasty little buggers,” said Dr Thompson.
Prevention is the best form of treatment, and there are a few products on the market that provide short-term coverage. These include oral treatments for dogs, collars for dogs and cats, and spot treatments for dogs and cats.
“My advice though is to never rely on these 100 per cent. Always run your hands over them and see if you can feel any lumps on the skin - it’s much easier to feel than see a tick,” said Dr Thompson.
“Early symptoms are the back half of the pet appears ‘drunk’, then a change in vocalisation - their bark or meow will sound different. Even if you have the slightest concern, you should have your pet checked by your vet.
“Even early signs of ‘grade 1’ paralysis can progress really quick and you can have a dead pet within a few days. They die of heart and lung failure.”
Dr Thompson said treatment for tick paralysis is often successful, but also very expensive, and there can be lasting health problems as a result.
“You have to give them a tick antiserum, then put them on support for respiration and their heart. Sometimes you can turn them around in 24 hours and sometimes it takes a week. The worst cases have to go on to artificial ventilation,” he said.
What should you do if you find a tick on your pet? Pull it out, Dr Thompson said, by pinching the skin so the tick is away from the body, then removing it using tweezers or long fingernails.
“Go as close to the skin as possible and save the tick so you can show your vet. The worst you can do is use ‘bush remedies’ like dousing the tick in petrol or bug spray. Yes, the tick will eventually drop off, but before it does, it’ll be pretty angry and will inject all its toxins into the body in one go,” he said.
Ian Henry, veterinarian at Kurmond Vet Clinic, said in his experience the worst areas in the Hawkesbury for ticks are Grose Vale and Kurrajong Heights. He urged pet-owners to use tick prevention products.
“We’ve found it particularly successful and we haven’t had as many tick cases since we’ve started promoting it,” he said.