Keep your pet safe from ticks this summer

At this time of year, the weather heats up and vegetation springs into growth. Along with that lushness, come ticks – those blood sucking little insects that can spell paralysis and even death to our furry pets. 

It sounds like common sense, but researchers have supported what many pet owners already know: when searching for ticks on your pet, start at the head and neck. 

A University of Queensland team studied more than 10,000 tick bite cases at veterinary hospitals in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, and Sydney’s northern beaches and determined that the paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus, was found on the head, neck, or ears in 73% of dog patients and 63% of cats. 

So, in order to start crucial treatment for your pet, focus on where ticks most often occur. 

Ticks were found in other sites such as the animal’s nostrils and genitalia, but statistically speaking, hunting for them first on the head and neck is the best strategy. 

The researchers concluded that it didn’t seem to matter if the tick jumped onto the animal on its tail, torso or legs, they made their way to the head and neck areas. 

“We don’t know why this is the case, but it appears adult female ticks which are the most dangerous are not attaching at their first point of contact but have a preference for the head and neck,” Professor Stephen Barker, from the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, said. 

Prompt removal of the tick is critical for the best outcome.

Previous research by Professor Barker showed the severity of a tick season is determined by the weather the previous summer, when adult females lay their eggs. 

“If summer is mild and wet, most of the eggs will survive to hatch and become adult ticks in spring needing a host to feed from,” he said.

The researchers predict the current tick season will be similar to the 2024 season, which saw about 5,000 tick-related vet visits in eastern Australia with one in 10 of those pets dying. 

Professor Barker’s advice to pet owners is to be vigilant and check their animals after each outing. If you are in a tick prone area, keep dogs on a lead and on marked paths. 

“And if you are worried, go straight to your vet; do not delay since every hour may be critical to the survival of the pet.”

While more common in the warmer months, ticks are active all year round. They typically live in long grass, beaches, sand dunes, or bushland – all places your dog loves to roam. 

Ticks don’t just affect dogs; they can just as easily harm indoor cats. Owners can unknowingly bring ticks into their homes. If you’ve been outdoors, there’s a chance a tick might be hitching a ride on your shoes or clothing.

When a tick latches onto your pet, it can cause paralysis when the toxin produced by the tick is transmitted to the pet in the tick’s saliva (when the tick feeds). The toxin directly affects the pet’s nervous system. 

Paralysis ticks are often not noticed until the pet shows signs. Once that occurs, they can become paralysed in a matter of hours. 

Apart from physically checking them, you can protect your dog or cat from tick paralysis by using a regular tick prevention product specific to your pet’s species. 

This is crucial because some products designed for dogs can be fatal if given to cats. See your vet for more information. 

If you think your pet has been bitten, look for these signs of tick paralysis: 

• Drooling. 
• Lethargy. 
• Wobbly legs. 
• Vomiting. 
• Ragged breathing and coughing. 
• Change in bark or meow. 
• The animal may also collapse.