“It’s the season of the ticks” - Noah Kahan
A friendly reminder that tick season is well and truly upon us, as these tiny (and not so tiny.....) blood sucking parasites present throughout the beaches region, particularly following recent rainfall.
Ticks vary in size from microscopic to a pin head, up to the size of a 5 cent piece once engorged with their blood meal.
Immature ticks are often found on low lying scrub, in high numbers particulary after high rainfall. Females attach and feed from our wildlife, however ticks will also attach to unsuspecting domestic pets and humans.
Cats and Dogs can fall foul to these little creepy crawlies in a number of ways. They are susceptible to a toxin that is released in the saliva of the tick, that can cause loss of appetite, weakness and wobbliness and sometimes difficult breathing and paralysis. This can most certainly be life threatening.
For some pets, the tine immature ticks can cause severe irritation, causing frantic scratching and chewing at the area of attachment.
In other cases the ticks can transmit serious, life threatening infections from their mouthparts to our pets. Tick infestation can be serious.
Coastal bush regions in our region of South Eastern Tasmania provide a healthy population of these ticks. Due to the threat to our pets we recommend all pets in the region use tick prevention.
We can advise on a range of very effective tick preventatives.
If you find a tick on your pet:
We advise you don't squeeze or provoke the tick. Spray it with a ascaricide(insectide known to kill or paralyse ticks, without harming your pet.....always check the product is safe to use on your pet). Once the tick is paralysed, use a tick removal tool to easily remove the tick from the pet.
Our skilled nursing staff are always happy to help and advise on tick removal from your pet and discuss a preventative to keep your pet safe from further infection.
