Keeping an eye out for ticks

There are several species of ticks which can be a nuisance to pets, and they predominantly occur in rural, coastal and bush areas, so if your pet lives in or visits an area known for ticks, then it’s useful to be aware of how ticks can affect your pet.

The potentially fatal paralysis tick is only present on the eastern seaboard of Australia, however there are other tick species present in many areas of Australia and New Zealand and whilst these tick species are not potentially fatal, they can cause local irritation to your pet and can also transmit diseases. As we mentioned a few months ago, there is an emerging bacterial disease of dogs in northern WA called Ehrlichiosis, which is transmitted by ticks.

Ticks attach to the pet’s skin, burrowing in and become engorged from sucking the pet’s blood. This causes local skin irritation to the pet. Some tick species can also transmit diseases to the pet, and sometimes these diseases may also be a zoonotic risk to people.

It is important to regularly check your pet for ticks, especially after exercising your pet in an area known for ticks. If you find a tick on your pet, you can remove it using a special tick hook tool, or seek veterinary attention for further assistance or if you have any concerns.

If you are in an area known for the presence of paralysis ticks and you’ve found a tick on your pet and your pet displays any unusual behaviour such as weakness or wobbliness in the leg, or any changes to their breathing, vocalisation or facial expression, then it’s important to seek veterinary advice as soon as possible.

If your pet lives in or visits an area where ticks occur, then it’s important to use a tick prevention product to protect your pet. Speak with our team for the best tick prevention advice specific to your pet and geographical location. Even if you are using a tick prevention product on your pet, if your pet is in an area known for ticks, it is still recommended to perform a daily tick check of your pet.