Is your dog safe from evil ticks?

This is almost the end of spring, and summer is coming closer to our front doors so fast.

Is your holiday plan ready? You got tickets, and cashed up?

What about your dogs? Are they safe enough to play outside?

Tick season is here as well as the festive season. Time to ensure your dog's safety before you enjoy your holiday.

As a Dog Care 4519's new policy, your dog(s) must be treated by tick control medication before you drop off your dog(s) at our place. Tick control medication can be purchased from a number of pet shops (online & in store), supermarkets, and your local vet.

My recommendations are ...

• Pet Circle Online Store

• Petbarn Online Store

• vet-n-pet Direct Online Store

• Petstock Online Store

• Bunnings Online Store

• Coles Online Shopping

• Woolworths Online Shopping

When you own a pet, the last thing you want is for them to be bitten by ticks. They are common parasites of dogs and cats around the world, and Australia is no different. There are different types of Australian ticks to be aware of, particularly the Australian paralysis tick, which can cause deadly tick paralysis symptoms.

Ticks on dogs tend to be about the size of an apple seed when they have not fed, and can vary in colour, depending on the species. After they attach to the skin and take a blood meal from their host, ticks become ‘engorged’. When this happens, they can be as big as your little fingernail. Not all ticks look the same, and ticks tend to look different throughout their lifecycle, so if you’re not sure if it’s a tick, it’s best to consult your vet.

There are three main tick species that infest dogs in Australia: paralysis ticks, brown dog ticks, and bush ticks.

• Paralysis ticks - Paralysis ticks are typically found along the east coast of Australia, from Cape York in the north, all the way down to Lakes Entrance in Victoria. They are occasionally seen outside this area (e.g. the greater Melbourne area). They are one of the most dangerous parasites that can affect your pet as they produce a toxin which causes tick paralysis in dogs and cats.

• Brown Dog Ticks - The brown dog tick is widely distributed throughout Australia. Although these brown ticks cannot cause paralysis, they can cause skin irritation and heavy infestations may result in anaemia from excessive blood loss. Brown dog ticks can also transmit potentially fatal infections from one dog to another. Ehrlichia canis is one such bacteria that is transmitted by brown dog ticks. This potentially fatal brown dog tick disease was identified for the first time in Australia in 2020.

• Bush Ticks - Australia is home to bush ticks which are found along parts of the east and west coast. If you find a bush tick on your dog, it is important to remove it. Bush ticks can cause skin irritation and can also transmit potentially fatal diseases when they bite (e.g. babesiosis).

It will typically be during their adventures in the great outdoors. Ticks ‘quest’ to find a host, which involves crawling up low grass or shrubs and lying in wait. Ticks are sensitive to heat and the carbon dioxide that your dog exhales, which alerts them that there’s a suitable host nearby. When your pet pooch brushes past on a walk or while playing outside, the tick uses its front legs to grab on, then crawls over the coat and through the fur to find a suitable place to attach and feed.

Ticks manage to get on dogs all year round in Australia, but the highest risk is in spring and summer.

Depending on the tick species, they can cause deadly tick paralysis or transmit other harmful, and potentially fatal diseases to dogs. At the very least, a tick bite may cause irritation where it attaches to your dog.

The signs and symptoms of ticks being present on dogs will vary depending on the type of tick involved.

Brown dog tick symptoms may include irritation of the skin or anaemia. Paralysis tick symptoms in dogs, however, may include one or more of the following signs (it usually takes three days or more after a paralysis tick attaches before signs develop):

• A loss of coordination in the hind legs (wobbly or not being able to get up) which may progress to paralysis.

• A change in voice or bark.

• You may notice your dog vomiting after a tick bite.

• Retching, coughing or loss of appetite.

• Laboured breathing or rapid breathing.

• You may notice that your dog is lethargic after a tick bite.

Should you notice symptoms of a tick bite in your dog, you should seek immediate veterinary attention.

Reference: https://nexgard.com.au/dog-parasites/ticks