The Australian paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus, produces a toxin that can interfere with a dog’s nerves, swallowing and breathing. It occurs mainly along Australia’s eastern coast and cases can happen throughout the year, with risk commonly rising in spring and humid weather.
Early and progressing signs
- A different, softer or hoarse bark
- Unusual behaviour, tiredness or reduced appetite
- Repeated coughing, gagging, retching or vomiting
- Weak or wobbly back legs
- Difficulty standing or walking
- Noisy, laboured or rapid breathing
- Progressive paralysis or collapse
Not every dog shows every sign. A tick may already have fallen off, so the absence of an attached tick does not rule out tick paralysis.
Where to search
Use your fingertips to work slowly against the coat, feeling the skin rather than only looking. Pay particular attention to the head, neck, ears, lips and under the collar, then search the entire body, including between the toes, armpits and groin. University of Queensland research found paralysis ticks commonly move towards pets’ heads and necks.
If you feel a lump, part the coat and look before trying to remove it. Nipples, warts and other skin bumps can be mistaken for ticks. If you cannot tell what you have found, ask your vet rather than pulling at the skin. SASH explains how to check a suspected tick.
What to do if you find a tick
If your dog has a changed bark, gagging, weakness, unusual breathing or other signs of tick paralysis, call the nearest vet or emergency hospital and go immediately. Do not wait for paralysis or for symptoms to worsen. A long tick search must not delay the trip.
Remove a visible tick promptly with a suitable tick-removal tool used according to its instructions, or fine-point tweezers gripping close to the skin. Avoid squeezing its body. If removal is difficult, leave for veterinary help rather than repeatedly handling a distressed dog. Do not burn the tick or apply chemicals to it.
Call your vet immediately, even if your dog seems well, and follow their advice about urgent assessment. Tell them where the tick was attached and whether you have removed it. Ask what monitoring is needed. Signs can begin after removal, so a normal-looking dog is not proof that the risk has passed. Do not wait for symptoms before seeking advice.
Keep a dog with suspected paralysis quiet, and do not offer food, water or medicines by mouth unless the vet directs you. Swallowing may be impaired. If another person can safely check for further ticks without delaying transport, they can do so; finding one does not exclude others.
Removal is first aid, not a cure for established tick paralysis. Affected dogs may need antiserum, breathing support and hospital monitoring. See SASH’s tick-paralysis advice and Queensland Veterinary Specialists’ emergency guidance.
Prevention
Use a veterinarian-recommended tick preventative exactly as directed, search your dog daily and avoid dense scrub in high-risk areas. No product is completely foolproof. Never use a dog-only tick product on a cat; some ingredients used safely in dogs can be fatal to cats.
What not to do while arranging transport
Do not offer food, water or medicines by mouth to a dog with suspected tick paralysis unless the veterinarian specifically directs you. The toxin can interfere with swallowing and airway protection, so even water can enter the lungs. Keep the dog quiet; do not ask them to walk around to demonstrate weakness.
Do not burn a tick or apply chemicals to it. Use a suitable removal tool according to its instructions, or fine-point tweezers close to the skin. If removal is difficult, leave immediately for veterinary help rather than repeatedly handling a distressed dog. A prolonged tick search must not delay emergency care.
Useful details for the veterinary team
Tell the clinic when the dog was last normal, the first sign you noticed, any recent travel and the exact preventative and last dose date. If safely available, bring the removed tick in a sealed container. Note where it was attached and whether you found more than one. A photograph of the product packet is more useful than saying “the monthly tablet”.
Why removing the tick is not the end
Clinical signs can worsen after removal because toxin effects persist. Treatment and monitoring depend on breathing, swallowing and overall severity; some dogs require intensive care. A dog that looks brighter for a short time is not necessarily out of danger. The treating team should decide when eating, drinking and normal activity can safely resume.
After discharge
Ask for written instructions covering rest, feeding, rechecks, prevention and which changes require an immediate return. Make sure everyone caring for the dog follows the same plan. Do not restart exercise based only on how eager the dog appears.