* EARLY SEASON FOR TICKS

It may only be July but in the last week, several clinics in the area have already seen cases of tick paralysis.

 

We treated a young 7-month-old dog, Bolt, last week that was suffering from back leg weakness due to having 7 infant stage paralysis ticks attached. He presented with retching and a progressive weakness in his back legs that was particularly evident when climbing stairs. During examination we also noted that Bolt was having trouble breathing out. 

 

In many cases of infant stage tick attachment there are no signs present, but in this case (perhaps due to the number of ticks) they were significant and posed a life threatening risk. It was essential that this dog receive tick antiserum.

 

When a tick attaches and feeds it releases a toxin into the blood stream that attaches to the nerve – muscle junction and essentially paralyses the muscle.  The first muscles to be affected are in the hind limbs and throat.  That’s often why the first signs of tick paralysis are hind-limb weakness, a loss of bark, retching and an increased sound when breathing out.  Left untreated the paralysis will affect the front legs and the muscles used for breathing - ultimately causing death.

 

Antiserum acts by mopping up the toxin that is present in the blood stream. It may be 24 hrs before any improvement is seen.  Several tick searches, clipping of the coat and sometimes a tick bath are performed to ensure no further ticks remain on the body.  Food and water is withheld until we are sure the pet is able to swallow without difficulty. Complications such as pneumonia or heart failure are possible and the animal must be closely monitored. 

 

There are several measures to reduce the risks of tick paralysis:

 

1. Use a spot-on tick preventative every 2 weeks

 

2. Examine your pet thoroughly every day for ticks. This is especially important if they have been in bushy areas but many backyards will also contain ticks. If a tick is found it should be removed immediately. If a tick is removed within 1 or 2 days of attachment, your pet will likely avoid tick paralysis.

 

3. Look out for any signs of breathing changes, loss of bark, retching or hind limb weakness and see your vet promptly. 

 

As for Bolt, he made a full recovery and is back to his normal puppy ways!