Tick cases on the rise in South East QLD

Animal Welfare League Queensland calls on pet owners to be vigilant this tick season.

Tick season has started in South East Queensland and Animal Welfare League Queensland’s (AWLQ) Community Vet Clinics (CVCs) have been seeing a rise in tick-related cases in recent weeks.

Since August, AWLQ’s CVCs have already treated 26 tick-related cases in both cats and dogs (including Border Collie pup, Skylah) with this year’s mild winter and recent warmer weather likely boosting local tick populations.

Paralysis ticks are parasites that attach themselves to animals in order to drain their blood. As they do this, they secrete a toxin that affects animals’ nervous systems, leading to sickness or death.

Pet owners are urged to take preventive steps against paralysis ticks, including ensuring their pet’s tick medication is consistently up to date every 30 days and thoroughly examining pets daily. Remember to check between their toes, inside their ears, nose, mouth and their belly.

“Prevention is a lot better and cheaper than cure. Ensuring your dog or cat is consistently up-to-date with their tick prevention medication is paramount,” said Dr Dia Charalambous, AWLQ Vet Director.

“Keep an eye out for any symptoms. If you notice symptoms or you do find a tick on your pet, the best thing to do is take them into your local vet clinic. If you do remove a tick from your pet yourself, ensure you take the remainder of the tick with you to your vet so they can identify it.”

When the tick first attaches to the animal, it won’t have any signs of paralysis. If you can find the tick early before enough toxins have been injected into their system, it can help prevent any symptoms of paralysis.

Common signs and symptoms that your pet may be suffering from paralysis tick toxins include:

Vomiting or dry retching
Lethargy
Loss of appetite
Excessive salivating
Coughing or loud panting
Wobbly gait
Weakness in the hind limbs, progressing to total paralysis

Ticks often live in bushland or scrubby areas. Avoiding tick habitats can also reduce risk. Ensure you consult your vet about the most suitable treatment for your pet.

–ENDS–

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Caroline Esera
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About Animal Welfare League Queensland
Founded in 1959, AWLQ has become a trusted leader in animal welfare. We provide a safe haven and second chance for more than 10,000 stray and homeless animals annually. To each of these animals we welcome through our doors, we promise never to euthanise a healthy, sociable, or
treatable animal in our care. In addition to our shelter work, we are committed to keeping pets and people together by providing lifesaving support and resources to people in need with companion animals. We are known for our grassroots and innovative community-based animal welfare work, including our community vet clinic