If you’re going on a trip with your furry family, be conscious of your environment and the dangers it brings. It’s important to be prepared with pet emergencies since Summer in Australia can be unforgiving. Keep your pets hydrated and don’t forget to keep your tick prevention treatment up to date and to check your pet for paralysis ticks.
In Australia, your pet can pick up brown ticks and paralysis ticks while they’re frolicking in bushland or long grass. The toxins released in their saliva while they latch and feed on your pet, can start paralysing all their muscles and nerves. These affect not only those muscles involved with their movement but also those enabling them to swallow or breathe, and, if left for too long, it could be fatal!
Poor Boo Boo
Boo Boo’s family managed to remove a tick they found on him, but the effects of the toxin were already showing. He was a bit wobbly on his feet and had intermittent regurgitation. The poor boy was rushed to the emergency centre where immediate treatment was started before the toxin could do further damage and debilitate Boo Boo’s respiratory system any further.
His treatment included aggressive fluid therapy and, due to his inability to swallow properly, he was constantly checked on (physical examinations and blood tests) to make sure he was he didn’t develop pneumonia from aspirating fluid or food. After a few days in hospital and more than $3,000 in veterinary bills later, Boo Boo recovered well and was back to his normal happy and bouncy self!
Paralysis Tick Prevention
So how do we prevent our pets from getting ticks? For one, keep up to date with tick prevention – there are a few products on the market now that can help prevent the ticks leeching dinner off your pet. Contact your local vet to see what products they recommend! As an added measure, even if you diligently follow a tick prevention regime, check your pet’s coat thoroughly after every outing where they’ve visited areas that expose them to those nasty ticks (i.e. bushland, long grass). You can also trim your pet’s coat shorter so you can find those suckers quicker and easier! For more tips on prevention, we’ve laid out some helpful insights below.
Protect your pets with Knose
While enjoying the outdoors is great for pets and pet owners alike, you need to ensure that you prevent your furbaby from getting sick due to those nasty paralysis ticks.
Knose has developed Pet Care plans with input from vets to provide simple, stress-free pet care for a flat monthly fee.
You can sign up here to get flea, tick and worming treatments delivered to your door just when it’s due and gain access to the 24/7 Pet Health Hotline. Plans also include an allowance for vaccinations, vet checkups and more.
Talk to your vet if you are unsure about the treatment that’s right for your pet.
All Knose customers can call the Pet Health Hotline for free to get advice on preventative treatments.
