Paralysis tick in dogs is a rare but serious condition caused by a neurotoxin in the saliva of some female ticks.
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This neurotoxin causes paralysis, which begins in the lower extremities of the dog and ‘climbs’ into the upper extremities of the body.
Also Read: The 3 Best Dog Foods for Shedding Control for 2021 Updated.
This type of paralysis is called ‘ascending paralysis’. Symptoms usually begin two to seven days after the tick is attached.
Signs of tick paralysis in dogs
When dogs get bitten by certain ticks, like the paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus), they can become seriously unwell. Here are some common signs to watch out for, along with a timeline to help you understand what might be happening:
- Instability and Weakness in Their Back:
- Timeline: Typically, this symptom appears first and can worsen over a day or two. Your dog might have trouble standing or walking.
- Vomiting:
- Timeline: Vomiting can start within the first day or two after the tick bite. It might happen more frequently as time goes on.
- High Blood Pressure:
- Timeline: Elevated blood pressure might be observed as the tick’s toxin affects your dog’s body. This can be detected during a vet examination.
- Rapid Heart Rate:
- Timeline: An increased heart rate is another sign that can develop within the first few days after the tick bite.
- Poor Reactions or Complete Absence:
- Timeline: As the tick toxin spreads, your dog’s responses to things around them may change. They might become less responsive or even unresponsive.
- Excessive Drooling:
- Timeline: Drooling can be noticed early on, within the first day or two after the tick attaches.
- Trouble Eating:
- Timeline: Difficulty in eating or swallowing can become evident as the paralysis progresses.
The main worry for pet owners is that paralysis ticks can cause severe problems and even lead to death within just a few days after attaching to your dog. If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s crucial to contact your veterinarian immediately. Timely treatment can make a big difference in your dog’s chances of recovery.
Stages of tick paralysis in dogs
The 1-5 stage scale of tick paralysis is used to describe the extent to which tick toxin affects an animal:
- Mild from stage 1, usually appearing as “motion” or “weakness” in the hind limbs, the dog may have changed bark.
- Stage 2 hind limb is paralyzed, the animal can sit on its front legs, but not stand on its back.
- Stage 3 Ascending paralysis affects the front legs and at this stage the animal can lie on its chest, but is unable to hold itself with the front or back limbs.
- Stage 4 The animal can only lie on its side, cannot hold itself or lie on its chest, and suffers from noticeable breathing difficulties / increased effort.
- Stage 5 causes respiratory failure and death is imminent
Paralysis ticks occur naturally in some geographical areas (mainly off the coast areas in any country), which can be associated with pets visiting these areas during the warmer months, especially if they are allowed to run through the scrub.
Ticks can return with you or neighbors in cars, rugs, towels or plants.
If a tick is noticed on a pet that does not show signs of tick paralysis, remove the tick immediately.
To do this, grasp tightly where the tick attaches to your pet’s skin and pull it aside. A dying tick can inject its powerful toxin into your pet’s body, so it is best to avoid killing the tick without proper knowledge in handling it.
If you do not confidant in removing the tick, please call vet as early as possible to remove it.
Keep your pet cool and quiet after the tick has been removed, while keeping a close watch for 24 hours.
If your pet starts to show any signs of tick paralysis, such as
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Instability
- Difficulty breathing or altered bark
Seek immediate veterinary attention as this is a true veterinary emergency.
If your pet shows any of the above signs, do not give food or water as tick-affected dogs may inadvertently suck.
Treatment for Paralysis Tick in Dogs
Tick paralysis treatment involves searching and removing all ticks. use a good tick-removing manual tool for this operation.
Get a Metal Tool kit as shown above for long life and can be reusable.
This may include the use of drugs to completely clipping the animal and/or kill the remaining ticks.
Tick antiserum is injected to fight the toxin and supportive care is provided during recovery. It is very expensive compared to how much it initially costs to use tick prevention.
However, tick prevention is not 100% effective and should always be used with daily searches of your pet.
Do not stop searching for your pet after you return from tick affected areas but should continue for at least 7 days after returning home.
Use your fingers to feel the whole body, especially under the collar, on the face and on the front of your pet. Do not forget to carefully inspect between the toes, under the lips and in the ears.
Flea Control
Flies are most often seen during the warmer months but throughout the winter we keep our homes neat and warm and see flies throughout the year.
Only a small fraction of the adult flea population lives on your pet.
Flies lay eggs and larvae in the environment and can live up to a year, so treating your animal not only directly for flies but also polluting the environment.
Wash your pet’s bed using the hottest bicycle and vacuum / clean carpets regularly.
Flies will jump on your pet only to feed and then jump again. Dogs and cats can react to flea saliva, resulting in a skin condition called flea allergic dermatitis or FAD.
FAD treatment is complex and a veterinary consultation is recommended.
Some signs that your pet may have flies
Scratching, biting and hair falling, especially at the base of the tail and rump
You can see flies (especially above the rump and in the groin area)
Flies are hard to find, but flea dirt is very easy to check.
Moisten the cotton ball, part it into your pet’s fur, and place the cotton ball on the skin above the rump.
If the cotton ball has stains of black marks surrounded by a red spot, it could be flea dirt and indicate that your pet has flies.
