"Your pet can be affected at any time of the year"
Ticks can cause paralysis in cats or dogs by injecting a toxin into the animal's bloodstream. While they're common in the warmer months, especially when it's humid, "your pet can be affected at any time of the year", warns Dr Sam Kovac, founder of Southern Cross Vet in Sydney.
"Cases are often worse in the colder months as many people don't think their pet can get a tick and ignore the warning signs," doctor Kovac said.
Dr Doug English, who has over 20 years of experience working as a vet, also confirmed that tick season is a misnomer, with varying temperatures playing a larger role. "Ticks occur sporadically at all times of the year but there is a peak month for cases that is different every year depending on the local season."
"Common peak months are May, June, July, August, September and this year so far I think August is the winner but we are still adding up September cases," English said.
Maggie the Aussie Doodle: case study
9 month old Maggie, who has regular tick treatment, lives in Newcastle and was acting a bit strange for a day or two, then collapsed and was rushed to the vet. She had a paralysis tick and was very unwell.
"The vet bill came to $2,600," said Maggie's owner Jade. "That included one overnight stay. We, unfortunately, didn't have pet insurance. I looked into it when we first brought Maggie home but was overwhelmed by the choice and what was covered by the different policies. Because it seemed like hard work, I left the task on my to-do list. I also, naively, thought a puppy was unlikely to have health issues and insurance would be more worthwhile down the track. In hindsight, we should have got the insurance before the puppy!"
Before tick treatment
After tick treatment
Can pet insurance cover tick paralysis treatment?
Yes. If your dog or cat has a tick, pet insurance can help pay for tick paralysis treatment. Many policies come with sub-limits for paralysis tick treatment. This is the maximum amount you can claim for treatment related to ticks.
Where do you find ticks?
"Ticks love to live in beaches or sand dunes, and bushland surrounding national parks. While they are rare in metropolitan areas, they can spread through contact with another animal who has a tick. So, you can really find them anywhere." said Dr Kovac.
Ticks can also move from people on to dogs and cats. "Even [if] your dog (or cat) might be an "inside" pet, you certainly aren't," said Dr Evan Shaw.
"Owners traipse all kinds of things in on their clothes, feet and fingernails, and what do they do once you've dropped them off in your lovely clean home? Make a B-line for the little furry warm fella in the dog or cat bed," he added. "Just like fleas and worms, ticks will find a way to get into your home."
How can pet owners spot ticks?
Paralysis ticks can be very difficult to spot, even in animals with short coats. Early signs of tick paralysis include: lethargy and wobbliness in the back legs. Laboured breathing, drooling and vomiting can also occur.
You can also "look out for a change to the sound of their bark or meow – if it's a pitch higher, or hoarse, they may have a tick", according to Dr Sam Kovac.
"Get as many people in the family as possible, and use fingers to cover every square centimetre of your pet. You are feeling for something like a miniature Tic Tac – a lump on the skin. The common areas where ticks love to hide is on the front third of the body."
"Don't forget to check the ear canal, between the ears, under the lip, between the toes and armpits. Remember to take off your pet's collar as ticks love hiding under them," Kovac advises.
FAQs about ticks
While they are common between October and January in Australia, especially when it's humid, ticks can occur at any time of the year.
"Because paralysis ticks are a temperate to tropical species, climate change has only increased their habitation zones, not to mention we have also been encroaching further into theirs due to urban sprawl," said Australian vet and FleaMail founder Dr Evan Shaw.
"Unfortunately (like the cane toad) paralysis tick have become hardy little travellers spreading farther and farther south, crossing the Great Dividing Range even. They have pushed so far that they have made it all the way round the south coast with admissions to animal hospitals as far as Geelong (yes Melbourne, you now have paralysis tick too) and now even in Tasmania," Shaw added.
"The best way to prevent ticks is to use a combination flea/tick product. There are a variety of 3- or 6-month products on the market. These products are not a repellent, but they will kill the tick," said Kovac.
However, even if you kill the tick, it's still recommended that you see a vet. Tick paralysis can occur even after the removal of a tick and treatment of the animal.
Gary Ross Hunter is an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146).
The implications of pre-existing conditions in your pet are a source of confusion and concern for many people wishing to insure their pets – here’s what you need to know.
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