Paralysis Ticks Dr Viki Dioszegi BVSc BHSc
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What you need to know about ticks
From the twelve tick species which have been found on dogs in Australia only the paralysis tick (Ixodes Holocyclus) is a health hazard for small animals. It has a three host life cycle; which means it needs to find a host and engorge each phase of its development (larva, nymph, adult) during the year. (Glen Coleman, 1996)
The natural hosts are native wildlife such as bandicoots, possums, koalas and macropods but the tick occasionally will attach to domestic animals and even humans. Paralyses tick presents on the east coast of Australia only. Humid conditions are essential for survival of the paralysis tick. Dry conditions, relatively high (32°C) and low (7°C) temperatures will kill all stages after a few days. An ambient temperature of 27°C and high relative humidity is thought to be optimal for rapid development (Clunies-Ross, 1935). The tick population in a given year is probably governed by the rainfall in the previous year if the temperature variations have only been moderate. If there has been a cold winter in South East Queensland and also drought, the coming season won't favour tick development. Ticks are more prevalent at certain times of the year. Observed seasonal occurrence of life cycle of Paralysis Ticks in Australia 
In South East Queensland:
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Paralysis ticks attach to any moving object that brush past them whilst they are on the leaves of shrubs and bushes. For this reason, we mostly find it on upper body parts such as lips, chin, around eyes, ear, back of head, neck, front legs and rarely around the anus and between the toes.
The female ticks stay on the animal for 1-5 days. If you find a tick, don’t stop searching as isn’t uncommon to have 2-3 ticks. To make it trickier ticks can also fall off the animal before being found, however it always leaves a severe localized skin reaction with hardened, red, raised skin. |
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How to identify a paralysis tick from other harmless ticks
- The middle 2 pairs of legs are lighter in colour, unlike the Bush tick and Brown Dog tick which have the same colour legs.
- Legs are “bunched up” at the front of the body
- They have a long mouth part which is called the “snout”
The saliva of the tick has local pain killer in it so the host doesn’t notice as the “teethed” mouth part digs in deep and attaches, sucking a pool of blood.
What to do if a tick is found
Immediately pull it off with forceps or a special tick remover device by grabbing and twisting in a clockwise direction.
Do not to use irritant substances such as turpentine, kerosene, or petrol. These will kill the tick but won’t make it any easier to remove and will also cause the tick to inject more toxin before dying. Chemicals will also cause a very nasty sore and unnecessary pain at the site of the tick bite.
If by any chance the head of the tick stays in the skin, scratch it out with your fingernail. The head will not inject any more poison once the body has been removed, but it may cause a foreign body reaction similar to a splinter.
These photos have been taken after pulling a tick from a dog. The head is missing as it has stayed in the dog.
Immediately pull it off with forceps or a special tick remover device by grabbing and twisting in a clockwise direction.
Do not to use irritant substances such as turpentine, kerosene, or petrol. These will kill the tick but won’t make it any easier to remove and will also cause the tick to inject more toxin before dying. Chemicals will also cause a very nasty sore and unnecessary pain at the site of the tick bite.
If by any chance the head of the tick stays in the skin, scratch it out with your fingernail. The head will not inject any more poison once the body has been removed, but it may cause a foreign body reaction similar to a splinter.
These photos have been taken after pulling a tick from a dog. The head is missing as it has stayed in the dog.
Effects of ticks
Tick saliva is neuro and cardiotoxic what means it has deleterious effect on the heart and nervous system causing ascending paralyses.
Signs of tick toxicity
Tick saliva is neuro and cardiotoxic what means it has deleterious effect on the heart and nervous system causing ascending paralyses.
Signs of tick toxicity
- lethargic
- shaking
- anxious
- confused
- dilated/non responsive pupils
- panting
- noisy/laboured respiration
- shallow breathing
- salivation
- vomiting
- wobbly on feet
- looks like a back problem
- incoordination
- “losing the back end”
- flaccid hind leg paralysis
- voice/bark change
The toxin is not secreted in detectable amounts until 3 days of attachment. Clinical signs of the animal being sick are often seen at day 3-4 with peak toxicity on days 5-6. These 3 days gives us a chance to find and to remove ticks before they inject large amounts of toxin.
Not every animal will paralyse or get really sick. Weight, age and immune competence counts - smaller and younger animals such as puppies, kittens, foals, calves, lambs and kids are more affected.
Tick infested areas may continuously expose dogs so they develop immune resistance however it only lasts for a couple of months and not until the next season. However, infestation by adults can occur at any time of the year when conditions are suitable, even in mid winter.
In my experience if an animal is already “wobbly on it's legs”, tick antiserum administration will be required for recovery.
Are commercial flea and tick treatment are safe?All spot-on treatments, sprays and collars are hard pesticides and pose some degree of health risk to animals. Humans who closely interact with treated dogs/cats (especially children) can be affected by the toxins.
Just remember on the packaging - “to wear gloves” and “wash off any contamination” and “avoid contact with eyes and skin”
Click here for more information on the potential side effects of preventative tick treatment
After all it is important to use environmental friendly methods and not poisoning our animal in attempt to wipe out fleas and ticks. If chemical control needed - use it only for short time and combination with other methods to reduce toxic exposure.
No prevention is 100% effective alone and gives 100% guarantee, so combine a few methods.
Useful tips for natural tick control
Potential side effects are not published in the literature accompanying the products or on TV!
Not every animal will paralyse or get really sick. Weight, age and immune competence counts - smaller and younger animals such as puppies, kittens, foals, calves, lambs and kids are more affected.
Tick infested areas may continuously expose dogs so they develop immune resistance however it only lasts for a couple of months and not until the next season. However, infestation by adults can occur at any time of the year when conditions are suitable, even in mid winter.
In my experience if an animal is already “wobbly on it's legs”, tick antiserum administration will be required for recovery.
Are commercial flea and tick treatment are safe?All spot-on treatments, sprays and collars are hard pesticides and pose some degree of health risk to animals. Humans who closely interact with treated dogs/cats (especially children) can be affected by the toxins.
Just remember on the packaging - “to wear gloves” and “wash off any contamination” and “avoid contact with eyes and skin”
Click here for more information on the potential side effects of preventative tick treatment
After all it is important to use environmental friendly methods and not poisoning our animal in attempt to wipe out fleas and ticks. If chemical control needed - use it only for short time and combination with other methods to reduce toxic exposure.
No prevention is 100% effective alone and gives 100% guarantee, so combine a few methods.
Useful tips for natural tick control
- Keeping animals on a natural diet will reduce waste material build up and elimination through the skin making their body odour less attractive for parasites. Fresh food diet also increases natural immunity.
- Tick Stop is a non-toxic homeopathic remedy which may limit the effect of tick toxins. Apply Tick Stop into drinking water daily from Aug-March to develop resistance. 1 bottle of Tick Stop will be sufficient for the whole season for all your animals in the household if they share their drinking water.
- Feeding supplements such as garlic, will absorb to the blood stream and repel parasites.
- Full clip long coated animals during spring, summer
- Regular salt water swimming
- Daily tick search as routine especially the following week after rainy, humid, warm weather
Potential side effects are not published in the literature accompanying the products or on TV!
