The warm weather has arrived and the Fleas and Ticks are back! Eggs that have laid dormant in the cold weather have now hatched and hungry little fleas are out looking for a meal!
Already we are seeing cases of flea infestations and tick paralysis in our four legged friends. With the suburbs spreading into bushland, domestic animals are brought into closer contact with the bush and as ticks feed off different animals including reptiles, birds and mammals, ticks are spreading into our backyards. In fact, during September alone, Vetcall Veterinary Practices have treated over 50 dogs and cats for tick paralysis!
TICKS
The paralysis tick is light grey in colour and oval or pear shaped. Symptoms vary depending on the site of tick attachment but often start with a mild respiratory effort, gagging, vomiting, or wobbly on the legs. These signs are often very mild in the beginning but can quickly worsen over a 12 hour period. Dr Mark Kropp says "It is very important that any animal showing tick paralysis symptoms be examined by a vet. The paralysis toxin spreads slowly into the body from the attachment site and can affect an animal for up to 3 days after the tick is removed. Therefore, removing the tick alone will not save an animal if it is already showing symptoms."
Treatment of tick paralysis depends on the symptoms your pet has but always involves the use of an antivenin, a product that is produced from the blood of animals that are immune to ticks. This is similar to the way snake antivenins are produced. Further treatments may include medication to reduce the strain on the heart and lungs, medication to prevent infection and medication to prevent vomiting while the animal is recovering from the paralysis. They are kept in hospital care for a few days during this recovery process.
Prevention of tick paralysis is the ideal but it is also difficult. Ticks are very robust creatures and quite hard to kill. To stop the attachment of ticks requires vigilance and regular treatments. Search your pet every day, if your pet has long hair, consider clipping its coat during tick season and finally, visit your nearest Vetcall clinic to get the best advice on tick preventative products.
FLEAS
While fleas are not as lethal as the paralysis tick, they can cause fatalities in young puppies and kittens due to anaemia, they transmit tapeworm, and they are a primary cause of skin allergy, which can be a difficult and costly illness to treat. They are also extremely itchy and annoying!!
Flea larvae can quickly develop into adults in a life cycle of less than 4 weeks. A single adult flea can produce about 2000 eggs in her lifetime. So flea numbers can build up dramatically.
Symptoms of flea infestation include constant scratching, irritability, and skin irritation and hair loss- usually along the top of the back, flanks and base of tail. Most humans are not bitten when there is a cat or dog around, as fleas prefer animal blood.
Dr Mark Kropp recommends that you check your pet's coat for evidence of fleas. If you can see black specks of dirt through the coat you are actually seeing the flea's faeces! Not a very pleasant thought but imagine how your pet feels! Keeping your pet free from fleas is one of the most important parts of being a responsible pet owner.
As part of Vetcalls October and November promotion, they are focusing on controlling these two parasites. There will be Special Offers on Tick and Flea Products and our Veterinarians and Nurses are happy to give FREE advice regarding any flea or tick problems your pets may have. So contact Vetcall today and together we can keep this menace at bay.
