Paralysis ticks may be tiny, but they can cause a whole lot of problems for your greyhound. Providing them with a regular tick preventative is the best way to minimise the risk of serious health problems.
We had a chat to the experts over at Zoetis, the team behind Simparica Trio®, who are dedicated to the continuous advancement of pet care products. Here they explain why a paralysis tick is so dangerous, and the best thing you can do to keep your hound safe.
What are Paralysis Ticks?
Ixodes holocyclus, the eastern paralysis tick, is an especially nasty critter that lives in the environment and attaches to pets, other animals and even humans. If detected and removed early there is little consequence, but if attached for more than 3 days, they can inject a paralysing toxin with potentially fatal results.
Is my dog at risk of getting a paralysis tick?
Paralysis ticks occur along the eastern coast and hinterlands of Australia, with a related species also being found in Victoria and Tasmania. Some areas are lucky enough for the risk to be seasonal. Check with your veterinarian to find out if ticks occur in your area.
How can I prevent paralysis ticks attaching to my dog?
The good news is that there are many excellent parasite control products that kill paralysis ticks before they can inject toxin. Simparica Trio®, which is the preferred product of Greyhound Rescue, is an excellent option, being a tasty liver-flavoured chew given to your dog once a month all year round. Most dogs consider it a treat, and you won’t have any trouble with them gobbling it up.
Is that it, job done?
Sadly not. While modern tick control products are a huge advance on the old powders, washes, dips, and shampoos, they are still not perfect. No matter which product you choose, you should manually check your dog all over every day to make sure it doesn’t have a tick, and if you find one then remove it immediately.
How do I perform a manual tick search every day on my dog?
Position your dog between your legs while standing and crawl your finger-tips through the coat, starting at the tip of the nose, and ending at the tip of the tail, touching every bit of skin in between. Don’t forget to look inside the ears, under the lips, in all the nooks and crannies. Ticks can be good at hide and seek. A proper tick check will take at least 5 minutes, maybe longer.
If I am going to do that, why bother with using a tick product like Simparica Trio®?
Humans are only human, and often we will forget to check or miss the tick, but between the excellent efficacy of Simparica Trio® and the regular diligence of yourself, the risk of tick paralysis will be as low as you can get.
What do I do if I think my dog might have tick paralysis?
If your dog is wobbly/weak in the legs, barking or vocalising strangely, retching, or vomiting, breathing with difficulty, or not eating, then seek veterinary attention immediately. Vets have antiserum at their disposal, and prompt administration of antiserum is the single biggest factor contributing to the survival of the ‘tick patient’. Don’t waste time looking for the tick, a search can be done at the vet while treatment is being administered.
If you need to stock up on your supply of Simparica Trio®, you can do so here.
And if you’d like to know more about Zoetis and their dedication to pet health, you can read more here.
Zoetis Australia Pty Ltd. Level 6, 5 Rider Boulevard, Rhodes NSW 2138. © Zoetis Inc. All rights reserved. November 2024. MM-37544.