Tick Poisoning

– Lethargy

– Vomitting

– Change in voice (bark or meow)

– Difficulty breathing

– Paralysis in hind legs

If the animal is left untreated, the loss of control extends up the spine to affect the front legs and then the neck muscles. The swallowing ability of the animal becomes paralyzed, so that food, fluids or medicine given by mouth can cause them to choke leading to pneumonia and death. Thus all treatment has to be given by intravenous injection and the early injection of anti-tick serum favours recovery.

If you find a tick and your animal appears unaffected you should remove the tick and keep the animal cool, quiet and confined. Do not feed. Limited water can be offered. If you pet is affected, present to the clinic immediately.

Early treatment means less time in the hospital.

Secondary symptoms such as pneumonia, dehydration and heart failure can occur during course of this disease, and can lead to death. Nursing under veterinary supervision is of paramount importance.

1. Daily searching is essential. Pay particular attention to the head, neck and shoulders. Also check between the toes.

2. Tick Prevention for Dogs
For adult dogs, our preferred tick prevention is the Bravecto Quantum injection, which provides 12 months of protection with a single dose.

The good news is that you do not need to make an appointment for a Bravecto Quantum injection. One of our team members is available during business hours to administer it. We keep a record of your dog’s treatment and will send you a reminder when the next injection is due.

Since introducing Bravecto Quantum, the only side effect we have observed has been very minor blood spotting at the injection site in some dogs. To minimise this, we now apply gentle pressure to the area after the injection.

For puppies and growing dogs, we commonly recommend:

Bravecto chews every 3 months

Bravecto spot-on treatments for dogs who are difficult to tablet

Some clients prefer Simparica Trio, a monthly chew that also covers heartworm and selected intestinal worms.

3. Tick Prevention for Cats
For cats, we recommend Felpreva every 3 months. No one wants to give cats tablets! Felpreva also includes an all-wormer, making parasite prevention much simpler for cat owners.

Some clients prefer Revolution Plus, which is applied monthly but uses a smaller application volume.

Year-Round Protection Matters
Tick paralysis can become life-threatening very quickly. Even pets that spend most of their time indoors can be exposed, as ticks are commonly carried into homes and gardens by wildlife.

If you are unsure which product is best for your pet, our team is always happy to help you choose the safest and most suitable option.