Tick the risks off your list
Vet’s plea to protect animals
PARALYSIS ticks are feeding on cats and dogs across Cairns at an alarming rate as vets plead with owners to protect their pets.
The small arachnids are commonly found in bushland, but can also be found in backyards. Their bites can be debilitating and even fatal.
Edmonton Veterinary Clinic and Cattery owner Jason Buttigieg said there was a marked surge in paralysis tick cases this month.
“We definitely have seen an increase in the number of cases that we’ve seen,” he said.
“Around August, September, October is our peak period for paralysis ticks. We might have some weeks where we see none and then others where we see seven. In Cairns, paralysis tick bites happen all year round, it just becomes more frequent at this time of the year.”
He said getting care for an animal with a paralysis tick bite was essential.
“Finding a tick on a dog and having a dog that’s showing signs are two different things, but if a paralysis tick is on your dog and the tick is still alive it’s likely your dog is going to show signs and you need to find help,” he said.
“If it’s after hours, contact an after-hours vet, if it’s during hours contact your regular vet. That’s the first thing you should do.
“Sometimes you can pull the tick off and then a day or two later the dog will still get sick, so you can’t assume everything is going to be fine even if you’ve pulled the tick off.”
Dr Buttigieg said there was no excuse for not protecting four-legged family members.
“Talk to your vet. There are some great products out there, some oral medications for dogs and some other medication out for cats that can prevent paralysis ticks,” he said.
“The safety margins on these products is incredibly high, and the efficacy of them is also really high. The number of cases that we’ve seen now, compared to about five years ago, has plummeted and it’s really to do with this new wave of products.”
Regular grooming was Dr Buttigieg’s second tip.
“Check them head to toe, particularly around the head.”