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Spring 2009

Tick Time

Just a reminder that with summer approaching, tick season is coming. Previous newsletters have given quite a few details about ticks but if you have any queries we have a good brochure available and also we sell tick hooks which make removing them very easy.

 

Sydney has a number of species of ticks, one of which is the paralysis tick. One paralysis tick can easily kill a dog or cat.

 

Daily searching your pet for ticks is a good idea- this is really more like patting them all over, most dogs and cats enjoy this. However, if you see any symptoms of weakness in the back legs initially, then spreading to the front legs, breathing difficulty or regurgitating; tick paralysis is possible and so veterinary attention is needed.

 

The worst areas in Sydney for ticks tend to be the Northern beaches and Northern suburbs areas and certainly coastal NSW has a lot of ticks. If you see a tick, remove it.

 

Paralysis ticks have 2 distinct colours of their legs with the 2 central pairs of legs a different colour to the first and last set of legs. So if you remove a tick, if possible check it under a magnifying glass to see if it is a paralysis tick.

 

Some tick cases don't show symptoms till a day after tick removal and also any animal with one tick may have more than one. Tick paralysis can be treated but still some animals will be so severely affected that they can die, so early treatment is always advised.

 

Prevention is better than a cure-tick control products greatly reduce the risk of tick paralysis to your pet. There are several preventative products to choose from including: Frontline, Advantix, Permoxin rinse, Preventic tick collars... our reception staff can advise you which are suitable for your pets, as some must not be used on cats.

 

Be alert, not alarmed.
Rosalie