Pet owners are urged to watch out for ticks as tick season has begun

Greenhills Veterinary Hospital vet nurse Tracee McWhinney urged people not to be complacent as wildlife like birds and blue tongues often dropped them in the backyard.

“Just because you live in Maitland and you’re not close to any bush land doesn’t mean you’re not at risk.” she said.

“Ticks are about because we live in a coastal area and you still need to treat your dog with tick prevention.” 

Ms McWhinney said any tick was bad news for a dog, but the paralysis ticks were the worst.

She said pet owners should run their hands through their dog and cats fur every day and look out for any ticks hanging onto their skin.

“If they find a tick they need to remove it, put it in a jar or in a piece of cling wrap – so it can be viewed by the vet – and go to the vet straight away,” she said. 

The hospital has had two tick bite cases in the past week and has clocked up six incidents since August.

It expects to be inundated with bites over summer. 

The Animal Referral and Emergency Centre in East Maitland is also seeing an increase in tick bites. 

Mc McWhinney urged pet owners to take notice if their animal is off its food, is a bit wobbly in the back legs, and has a different bark or meow. 

She recommended using tick prevention products to help stop a tick bite.

“It can be three days after the bite before you notice any symptoms, tick prevention is the best thing,” she said. 

“Once the paralysis starts affecting the animal they become paralyzed and can’t walk.

“It affects your muscles, your heart is a muscle and there are muscles around your lungs. 

“It can take three days for the symptoms to show.”

Pet owners should keep the phone number for their vet and the AREC on the fridge for easy access in an emergency.