Health & Wellbeing
Paralysis Tick Poisoning: How to Protect Your Dog & Save Their Life
With over 10,000 cases of paralysis ticks reported every year, Australian vets are urging owners to protect their doggos this season.
Copy: Serena Faber-Nelson
Photography: Serena Faber-Nelson
Ahhh, summer…filled with beaches, long lazy evenings, Sunday sessions and ummm…paralysis ticks.
That’s right, tick season is upon again and with 1 in 5 Australian dog owners NOT protecting their pups, it’s time for us all to refresh ourselves on how to keep our furry friends safe.
How to Protect Your Dog From Paralysis Ticks
While the idea of paralysis ticks seems scarier than if Pennywise from ‘It’ had a love child with Freddy Krueger, they don’t have to be.
Yes, they can cause paralysis.
Yes, 2 out of every 10 cases will be fatal.
But, there is some good news. Year round protection from paralysis ticks is totally available.
How to make sure your dog is protected? It’s simple: follow the T.I.C.K. method.
T is for TREAT. Year round prevention for ticks is easy. Just one Bravecto oral chew keeps your dog protected from fleas for 3 months and paralysis ticks for 4 months.The trick is to treat all year round – not just in the peak seasons. All it takes is one tick to hurt your dog, so 365-day prevention is key. And remember – flea treatments, while great for fleas, don’t offer protection against ticks. Always make sure you’re using a treatment that specifically targets paralysis ticks.
I is for INSPECT. While prevention is the #1 key to protecting your dog from ticks, inspecting your dog regularly gives that extra peace of mind. Paralysis ticks like to hang out in the nooks and crevices of your dog’s body. Make sure you inspect your dog on a regular basis – during your dog’s daily brush for example.
C is for CLEAN. Rid you home of spots for ticks to hide in! Keep your lawn freshly mowed, and hedges trimmed to prevent grassy build ups. Wash and clean your pet’s bedding and blankets regularly.
K is for KEEP WATCH. If your dog displays any of the symptoms of paralysis tick infestation (see below), be sure to contact your vet immediately.
“No Dog Should Die from Tick Paralysis in Australia”
As Australia’s peak paralysis tick season officially starts, some of Australia’s leading emergency veterinarians have an urgent warning message for dog owners – protect your pet against tick paralysis, a preventable disease, now, or face the deadly consequences.
Director and Veterinary Specialist at The Animal Emergency Service in Queensland, Dr Rob Webster comments: “Tick paralysis is a preventable disease. When we lose dogs, a terrible outcome for all involved, we are losing dogs that could have been saved by administering a long-lasting paralysis tick treatment.”
“Once the paralysis from a tick bite has taken hold, even the very best we can do using tick anti-serum and supportive care is going to save 8 out of 10 patients. This leaves a large number of dog owners in the dreadful position where they essentially watch their dog die from a preventable disease.”
Know the Warning Signs of Paralysis Ticks
While their peak season in Australia runs August to March, paralysis ticks can be found year-round, so it’s important to be vigilant at all times.
The Australian paralysis tick is the single most dangerous parasite for dogs with just one tick capable of causing paraylsis and in some cases death.
Some of the signs that your dog may have a paralysis tick include:
- Increased or laboured breathing
- Coughing
- Excessive salivation
- Vomiting
- Weakness or lameness in the hind legs.
If you see any of these signs, be sure to contact your vet immediately.
Giveaway – Win 1 of 20 Bravecto Packs
We’ve teamed up with Bravecto to offer you the chance to WIN 1 of 20 Bravecto prize packs. Enter below!
The giveaway is now closed and the lucky winners are…
- Tori Norris
- Lisa Gray
- Gerard Egan
- Kathy Ferguson Clark
- Amanda Bolin
- Julie Harrison
- Lesley Oats
- Kath Peatey
- Molly Townsend
- Clare Marantelli
- Alana Meekin
- Shannon Wotton
- Kate Parry-Rice
- Shannon Walker
- Lisa-Marie Ford
- Nicola Thompson
- Michelle Hymas
- Kaylene Lay
- Gillian Parkinson
- Kathy Mason
Terms & Conditions
This post and giveaway is brought to you by Bravecto.
The giveaway is open to Australian residents only aged 18+ years.
Family of Pretty Fluffy staff are ineligible to enter.
The total prize pool is 20 Bravecto Packs.
The competition will close on Tuesday 12 December 2017 at 6:00pm Sydney EDT and the winners drawn at this time.
The winners will be announced on Pretty Fluffy and contacted by the email provided.
Prizes not claimed within 7 days will be redrawn.
Copy: Serena Faber-Nelson
Photography: Serena Faber-Nelson
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Pick of the Week
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Fosser Dog Mat
Comfy, quilted, heaven. Use for travel, in the office, on the go, as a training mat...indoor or outdoor, they are the perfect, comfy spot for your dog to chill. And when they're done? They roll up like a yoga mat! 10/10.
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