Tick season is upon us and Tweed Coast vets are warning pet owners to be vigilant and check their animals regularly.
Andrew Warman of Kingscliff Veterinary Clinic said spring and summer was the main tick season here on the Coast.
“So far it’s not as bad as last year,” he said.
“But we are still seeing enough of them to be concerned.”
Ticks inhabit mainly coastal bushland and scrub areas but are also seen close to towns on acreage-type estates and suburban blocks with bush and unmown grass.
Animals can suffer tick paralysis as a result of a bite which is known to affect many species of domestic animals as well as humans, although it is mainly dogs and cats that are affected by this often fatal condition.
Andrew said, if you found a tick on your pet, it was best to pull it out immediately.
“Hang on to the tick after you have pulled it out and bring it in to your vet,” he said.
Symptoms to watch out for include weakness and paralysis in the hind legs, change in voice or bark, retching, coughing or vomiting, loss of appetite and difficulty breathing, or rapid breathing.
“If your pet has these symptoms after a tick, then it definitely needs to be treated,” he said. “The earlier the better.
“But prevention is the big thing.”
