The warmer weather is a great chance to explore the great outdoors with your four legged best friend. It’s also a time when potentially deadly paralysis ticks are at the most prevalent.
“It changes every year, but we saw our first tick cases in June and July this year,” AWLQ Vet Director Dr Andres Townsend said.
“And we’re heading into the main tick season now.
“It’s really important that dog and cat owners are prepared.”
Also known as the Scrub Tick, Bush Tick and Dog Tick, its official name is Ixodes holocyclus. It’s found within a 20 kilometre band the length of the east coast of Australia and the neurotoxins it injects into your cat or dog can be deadly.
Doctor Townsend says it’s vital that every time that your best friend is outdoors that you do a manual check of their coats and bodies, starting with the head.
“The head, neck, shoulder region are especially important, but ticks can be found anywhere on the body, including between their toes and even in their anus,” he said.
“If you believe that your dog or cat has, or may have had a tick, you need to take them to the vet immediately.
“It’s always better to be on the safe side with tick paralysis as your animal can rapidly deteriorate and even die without the proper medical treatment.”
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