Spring has sprung.
And the clock is ticking for tick season.
According to experts, a bad one has already begun…
Ticks thrive in wet and humid conditions, and though we’ve just had the driest winter on record, there’s still a lot of wet places across the coast where ticks love to live.
A 5 year study mapping the hot spots across the state for tick infestations, shows the Central Coast is smack bang in the middle of the worst areas in NSW.
Parasitologist Professor Stephen Barker’s Systematic Tick Mapping Study ran from October 2010 to April 2015 and created a geo-map of cases of tick paralysis reported by NSW Veterinarians. It showed that the top spots for ticks are Coffs Harbour, Moruya and Tuross Head. Other hotspots included Lake Macquarie suburbs Warners Bay and Cardiff, Mona Vale on Sydney’s northern beaches, and North Nowra and Mogo on the state’s south coast.
Prof Barker said, “The paralysis tick is a potentially lethal parasite. Although most postcodes along the eastern seaboard of NSW have paralysis ticks, some postcodes are hotspots for tick paralysis in dogs and cats”
Doyalson Animal Hospital has already had at least 4 reported cases of tick bites so far this season, which usually runs from September to May. A lot of pet owners relax the tick treatment over the cooler months, but with the early start to the warmer weather, now’s the time to resume it.
Prevention is available in chewy tablets, spot on treatments, and tick collars, but it still pays to be vigilant.
What to watch out for, thanks to our friends at Doyalson Animal Hospital (click their pic for more)
Do you know the signs of tick paralysis in your pet?
- Listen for a change in voice
- Are they lethargic
- Have they lost their appetite
- Coughing or gagging
- Are they wobbly or have weak legs
- Vomiting having trouble breathing
- Actual paralysis is one of the final stages and can be followed by death
TIME IS TICKING
Pet owners should give at least a monthly tick treatment, and check their dogs and cats every 48 hours. Even if your pet takes tick prevention, it’s best to check for the nasty little critters and remove them promptly if they try to hitch a ride. Contact your vet for a check-up.
It can take up to 4 days before the animal becomes dangerously ill, so if you give your pet a good going over, you should catch them before it’s too late. Ticks have a habit of hiding around the head and neck area, underneath the collar, and between the toes or near the tail so they can be tricky to find. Run your hands over your pet and check the furry bits especially.
If you find one, or your pet is showing signs of tick bite, DO NOT give them anything to eat or drink as the paralysis tick can affect their gag reflex and ability to swallow which can cause choking. Call the vet immediately.
If your pet’s vet isn’t open, Star104.5’s resident vet Dr Claire and her team offer emergency care 24/7 at the Animal Referral Hospital West Gosford. Call 4323 3886.
For more on the sorts of ticks that live on the coast, and what to watch out for, click here
TICKED OFF
Of course kids can also fall prey to ticks, so if they’re in any wooded area be sure to do a tick check afterwards. Especially around the head area, behind the ears, around the neck and in the armpits. An insect repellent with 10-30% DEET can provide some protection in children aged 2 and over.
Doctors are warning of a “horror tick season” and they’ve already seen a number of humans suffering tick bites across the state; it’s creating a serious health risk for children in particular, and how you remove ticks is very important.
And although Lyme Disease is not officially recognised in Australia, humans can get pretty sick from ticks.
Signs and symptoms include:
- A red bump, an expanding red rash, which looks like a bull’s eye
- Red dots on the ankles and/or wrists
- Flu-like symptoms (headache, fever, fatigue, stiff neck, aching muscles or joints)
If these develop and worsen, get medical help.
- Particularly if the bite site looks infected (warmth, swelling, pain, or oozing pus)
GIVE TICKS THE FLICK…
…or rather, the twist.
- There’s a number of tick removal tools on the market, available from vets, pet shops and pharmacies.
- Current recommendations also include the use of ‘scabies cream’ on the tick itself to encourage it to let go. Experts say to “dab it on” small ticks and leave it for an hour; for big ticks give it 5 shots of ‘dry ice’ – IMPORTANT seek medical help to do so.
- NEVER use a hot match or petroleum jelly to try to get rid of the tick. Contrary to popular belief it won’t get the tick off and can in fact make it ticked off, and dig in deeper!
- Be careful not to leave the mouth parts embedded in the skin.
- Wash your hands with soap and water, and clean the bite site with an alcohol wipe if available.
- If you can keep the tick, put it in a ziplock bag and take it to the vet or doctor.
