VETS ISSUE URGENT WARNING TO DOG OWNERS: ‘A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH’
Source: 7News (Extract)
Posted: September 6, 2022
Australian vets have issued an urgent warning to dog owners ahead of tick season.
Experts are warning the upcoming season could be devastating due to a combination of hot and wet weather.
At least 10,000 pets are rushed to hospital with potentially deadly bites each year in Australia. But, it’s a trauma that can be easily prevented.
Terrifying new statistics from the Australian Paralysis Tick Advisory Panel, reveal just under half (48 per cent) of dogs living in paralysis tick areas in Australia are on tick prevention.
This has dropped 5 per cent in the past two years.
Dr Heather Russell, a member of the panel, and a vet at the Northside Emergency Veterinary Service has put out an urgent call to dog owners to protect their pets.
“Quite simply, the risk of not being protected against paralysis ticks all year-round is a matter of life or death,” she said.
“Tick paralysis can be fatal. I’ve seen too many cases in my clinic already this year that could have been prevented.
“This is why it is so important for pet owners to be able to recognise the signs and, even more importantly, to be protecting their pets with an effective tick control product.”
Where are tick hotspots?
While vets say all dog owners should ensure their pet is protected regardless of where they reside, there are some areas that are of more concern.
Areas near dense bushland along rivers or the coast, such as near national parks, are common hotspots for ticks.
Along the country’s east coast in particular are areas of concern for both paralysis and bush ticks, NexGard Spectra Australia says.
For brown dog ticks, much of the country’s eastern states are considered hotpots including NSW, QLD, VIC, NT and SA.
Some areas of the Western Australia coast are also considered hotspots for brown dog ticks.
Warning signs
Signs of tick paralysis can vary, and may include:
- Altered mobility, which may include loss of coordination and weakness
- Laboured or rapid breathing, grunting noises and/or abdominal heaving
- Change or loss of bark
- Coughing
- Gagging and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Inability to blink in one or both eyes
- Appearing generally unwell
How to check
Vets say the best way to spot the pests is by running your fingers through your pet’s coat daily, but they stress that preventative treatment is just as crucial with chewable tablets costing around $75 for three months of protection.
Here’s how to check your dog for ticks:
- Gently move your fingertips through the coat at the level of the skin, feeling for any bumps.
- Start at the head and neck – don’t forget the mouth and ears – and continue down the front legs to the paws, checking between and under the toes. Search the chest, belly, back, tail, and back legs.
- Remove the collar and search for ticks that may be hiding underneath it.
