Paralysis ticks are a serious risk along much of Australia’s eastern coastline, including parts of Queensland. Prevention should combine an effective veterinary product, daily hands-on checks and sensible management of high-risk environments.
Prevention options
- Oral chews or tablets: convenient for many dogs, but correct weight range and dosing interval matter.
- Spot-on treatments: applied to the skin; bathing, coat type and household circumstances may affect suitability.
- Tick collars: provide extended protection when fitted and maintained correctly.
There is no universally “best” option. Ask your veterinarian to match the product to your dog’s age, weight, health, swimming habits, travel plans and other pets. Never split doses or combine products unless advised.
Do a daily tick search
Run your fingertips slowly over the skin, beginning with the head and neck, around the lips, ears and collar. Continue over the chest, body, armpits, groin and between the toes. Feel for small bumps and repeat the search after bush or long-grass exposure. Preventatives reduce risk but do not replace checking.
Reduce exposure
- Avoid dense scrub and known tick habitats during higher-risk periods.
- Keep lawns short and remove leaf litter and garden debris.
- Check bedding, leads and gear after outdoor trips.
- Keep a record of when every dose is due.
- Tell your vet where your dog has travelled.
Know the emergency signs
A changed bark, gagging, vomiting, wobbly back legs, weakness or breathing difficulty can indicate tick paralysis. Remove any discovered tick promptly and take your dog to a veterinarian immediately.
Turn the packet into a reliable routine
Create one record for each pet with the exact product name, current weight range, date given and next due date from the label. Photograph the packet and keep it with your pet's records. Set a reminder before the next dose is due and a second reminder to confirm it was actually given. A calendar alert alone does not mean the dose happened.
If a dose is late, spat out or followed by vomiting, ask your vet or the manufacturer what to do for that product. Do not improvise a double dose. Check whether its label covers paralysis ticks specifically; different parasites and products have different schedules.
A whole-body search you can repeat
Choose good light and a calm time when your dog tolerates handling. Work in the same order each day so you do not skip an area. Separate the hair and feel the skin, checking both sides of the body. Pause if handling is painful or unsafe and get help rather than forcing the examination.
Ask a veterinary nurse to demonstrate a search and show you a suitable removal tool. Keep the tool somewhere easy to find. A quick stroke along the back is not a complete tick check, and checking only the head misses other attachment sites.
Before travel or boarding
Give the carer the product record, next dose date, emergency contact and daily-search instructions. Tell your own vet where you are travelling so protection can be reviewed before departure. Check all pets after time in vegetation, including dogs whose preventative is current.
If you find an attached tick or an attachment crater, contact a veterinarian immediately for advice even if the dog seems well. Weakness, gagging or changed breathing makes this an emergency.