Watch out! Springtime is also ticks time

Making sure you know how to spot if your pet has been affected by ticks will help keep them safe.  

Remember, both cats and dogs can be affected by paralysis ticks.

Signs to look out for

• Wobbliness and weakness in the back legs, staggering or not being able to get up
• A change in the sound of the bark or voice
• Retching, coughing (sometimes it is a moist cough), and vomiting
• Excessive drooling
• Loss of appetite
• Progressive paralysis to include the forelegs
• Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing
• Grunting noises when breathing

If you’re not sure, but your dog or cat is showing abnormal behaviour or symptoms, see your vet as quickly as possible.

Check your pet

• Ticks or tick craters can be felt as lumps on the skin surface. Search pets regularly using your fingertips to feel carefully through your pet’s coat.
• Most ticks are found on the face, neck, and ears, but look everywhere.
• Start at your pet’s nose and slowly examine the face, forehead, and ears (inside and out). Also search the eyes and lips and the skin/fur around the eyes and lips.  
• Carefully examine all skin folds as well.
• Remove any collars and search the neck area.  
• Search the shoulder area and then down the shoulders to the front legs. Remember to check between each toe and under surface of the front feet. Also check under the ‘armpits’.
• Examine the chest area, all along the back, sides, belly, groin area, around the tail and anus and the thighs, back legs, in between the back leg toes and feet (including the under surface).
• If your pet shows signs of tick toxicity or you find a crater or a tick on your pet, take them to the vet immediately. Do not offer food or water or give anything orally. 
• Make a habit of treating your pet with parasite preventatives every year, as these work against paralysis ticks and can help prevent your pet from becoming ill.

Source: rspca.org.au

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