Rightio! Just had an idea to make this post, hopefully for some 'public awareness' for those who know little or nothing about paralysis ticks.
This tick season is/will be a shocker- there have been so many cases already and it's only going to get worse. SO;
Tick distribution
(image from the sourthern animal referral centre).
Note- be aware that if you live along the eastern coast (i.e. tick area), you arent necessarily safe if you live in the suburbs. e.g. someone recently walked their dog from their house a few houses up the road to an IGA shopping center, and 4 days later the dog was at the vets for tick paralysis. But having said this, they are worse where wildlife are
Prevention: These guys arent as easy to prevent as fleas, for example.
You have three main options for dogs;
1. Tick collar; tend to work better in shorter coated breeds, and must be fitted tightly. not good for dogs that swim regularly as they are a powder on a rubber collar. Preventix lasts 8wks, kiltix 6wks. Preventix is toxic to cats, so if you have a dog in close contact with a cat I'd recommend kiltix.
2. permoxin weekly rinses- 10mL per 400mL water, and saturate the entire dog, but avoid the eyes. Toxic to cats! this must be done WEEKLY to prevent/kill paralysis ticks. When you have saturated the dog, you can towel dry them but do not rinse it off- just let them air dry as is.
3. Advantix- my personal favourite and what I use for my border collie pup. However, it is expensive and must be applied every 2wks for paralysis ticks- it is a spot on, on the skin of the back of the neck. Extremely toxic to cats
With thick or long coated breeds its often beneficial to clip them during high risk periods to enable the early identification of paralysis ticks on the animal.
Tick prevention for cats: the only real option is frontline spray every 3wks. This can also be used for dogs but depending on the size it can work out very expensive.
NONE of these are 100% protective, even if you use all three at once (but, if you use >1 method, you reduce your risk of tick paralysis even more). For EXAMPLE: One of my own cats, which I am pedantic about applying frontline spray to, had a paralysis tick tonight- fortunately I noticed it crawling across her back, and she must have just picked it up. So you STILL need to do regular tick searches! Generally when tick paralysis signs are observed, the tick has been on for about 4 days- its not a case of you walk the dog that morning, they get a tick, and that afternoon they are showing signs- they dont work that quickly. As said above, for long or thick coated breeds it is especially beneficial to clip them, because even if a tick is present, and you do very thorough tick searches, you CAN still miss them surprisingly easily.
Signs of tick paralysis:
the main two ways tick toxin affects animals clinically is by an unsteady gait, progressing to hindlimb weakness that progresses and moves forwards to involve the front legs, and the animal will eventually be unable to stand if untreated. It also affects respiratory function- affected animals may start to have an increased respiratory rate, or increased effort with breathing. They may also breathe quite loudly. Dogs will often start having a gagging/retching type clinical sign and may even start vomiting. If a dog is showing clinical signs, even if you've removed the tick, they must see a veterinarian! Even once you remove the tick, the tick toxin present in the body will still bind and the clinical signs will progress without treatment. The longer you leave it before treatment, the riskier it is, the harder it is for them to recover, the longer it takes for them to recover and the more it will hurt your back pocket regarding $$$! If you find a tick on your pet and pull if off, and they are showing no signs -keep them quiet, avoid exercise, keep them cool, and keep a very close eye on them! if you notice any signs, they must be taken to see a veterinarian. Some dogs may not show signs but you must keep a close eye on them.
Anyway... hope no-one minds me posting this. I know few people will see it, but even one person more aware is better than nothing
This tick season is/will be a shocker- there have been so many cases already and it's only going to get worse. SO;
Tick distribution
(image from the sourthern animal referral centre).
Note- be aware that if you live along the eastern coast (i.e. tick area), you arent necessarily safe if you live in the suburbs. e.g. someone recently walked their dog from their house a few houses up the road to an IGA shopping center, and 4 days later the dog was at the vets for tick paralysis. But having said this, they are worse where wildlife are
Prevention: These guys arent as easy to prevent as fleas, for example.
You have three main options for dogs;
1. Tick collar; tend to work better in shorter coated breeds, and must be fitted tightly. not good for dogs that swim regularly as they are a powder on a rubber collar. Preventix lasts 8wks, kiltix 6wks. Preventix is toxic to cats, so if you have a dog in close contact with a cat I'd recommend kiltix.
2. permoxin weekly rinses- 10mL per 400mL water, and saturate the entire dog, but avoid the eyes. Toxic to cats! this must be done WEEKLY to prevent/kill paralysis ticks. When you have saturated the dog, you can towel dry them but do not rinse it off- just let them air dry as is.
3. Advantix- my personal favourite and what I use for my border collie pup. However, it is expensive and must be applied every 2wks for paralysis ticks- it is a spot on, on the skin of the back of the neck. Extremely toxic to cats
With thick or long coated breeds its often beneficial to clip them during high risk periods to enable the early identification of paralysis ticks on the animal.
Tick prevention for cats: the only real option is frontline spray every 3wks. This can also be used for dogs but depending on the size it can work out very expensive.
NONE of these are 100% protective, even if you use all three at once (but, if you use >1 method, you reduce your risk of tick paralysis even more). For EXAMPLE: One of my own cats, which I am pedantic about applying frontline spray to, had a paralysis tick tonight- fortunately I noticed it crawling across her back, and she must have just picked it up. So you STILL need to do regular tick searches! Generally when tick paralysis signs are observed, the tick has been on for about 4 days- its not a case of you walk the dog that morning, they get a tick, and that afternoon they are showing signs- they dont work that quickly. As said above, for long or thick coated breeds it is especially beneficial to clip them, because even if a tick is present, and you do very thorough tick searches, you CAN still miss them surprisingly easily.
Signs of tick paralysis:
the main two ways tick toxin affects animals clinically is by an unsteady gait, progressing to hindlimb weakness that progresses and moves forwards to involve the front legs, and the animal will eventually be unable to stand if untreated. It also affects respiratory function- affected animals may start to have an increased respiratory rate, or increased effort with breathing. They may also breathe quite loudly. Dogs will often start having a gagging/retching type clinical sign and may even start vomiting. If a dog is showing clinical signs, even if you've removed the tick, they must see a veterinarian! Even once you remove the tick, the tick toxin present in the body will still bind and the clinical signs will progress without treatment. The longer you leave it before treatment, the riskier it is, the harder it is for them to recover, the longer it takes for them to recover and the more it will hurt your back pocket regarding $$$! If you find a tick on your pet and pull if off, and they are showing no signs -keep them quiet, avoid exercise, keep them cool, and keep a very close eye on them! if you notice any signs, they must be taken to see a veterinarian. Some dogs may not show signs but you must keep a close eye on them.
Anyway... hope no-one minds me posting this. I know few people will see it, but even one person more aware is better than nothing
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