Red Fox Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 (edited) Yesterday I found a paralysis tick on my 8 week old pup, raced her to the vet who found and removed another. She was thoroughly checked and no more were found. Ticks were quite small (around 3mm) and not fully engorged. The vet thought they had been there for 2-3 days max. (I've only had her for 2 and a bit). She is showing no signs or symptoms of being affected at this stage. Eating and drinking well, lots of energy and her gag reflex is fine. She's still being checked over constantly to make sure there are no others. We are not in a tick area here in SA (pup flew from a tick prone area though). The local vet does not stock the anti serum and has advised that if she shows any signs of being unwell that we will need to get in the car and drive the 3.5 hours to Adelaide for it. My questions are: How long does it generally take after removal for symptoms to appear? If they do, how long do we have? Is it common for a young pup to be unaffected if the ticks are found and removed early? Is there any point in using frontline plus or advantix now? (given that we don't need 'prevention' here). Would a tick wash be a better choice? Do other animals in the house need to be treated? Can paralysis ticks spread from animal to animal? Yes, I have spoken to her breeder who has given me some good advice. I'd like to hear others experiences though. Thank you. eta pic Edited October 31, 2011 by SecretKei Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra777 Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 What a worry - sorry I can't help as I haven't been unfortunate enough to encounter a tick yet. Just hope the little one is OK! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptolomy Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 Good pickup SecretKei. I have my fingers crossed she is OK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 (edited) My questions are: How long does it generally take after removal for symptoms to appear? If they do, how long do we have? Is it common for a young pup to be unaffected if the ticks are found and removed early? Is there any point in using frontline plus or advantix now? (given that we don't need 'prevention' here). Would a tick wash be a better choice? Do other animals in the house need to be treated? Can paralysis ticks spread from animal to animal? Yes, I have spoken to her breeder who has given me some good advice. I'd like to hear others experiences though. Thank you. Removing ticks at 3mm means that the dog is unlikely to be affected. It sounds like the ticks were on her coat but did not embed into her for a day or so. The main worry is that there may be another that you missed, in an ear or the anus or even down the throat. Ticks usually have to be embedded for 2-6 days to cause a problem and if they are all removed she should be fine if there are no symptoms in about 2 days. From first symptoms you usually have a day or so but a lot of owners miss the first symptoms. Once they collapse you only have hours at most. Our vets recommend Frontline be put on if you find a tick in case there is any others that have been missed as it will kill them within hours. Advantix doesn't work immediately on attached ticks it apparently needs to be on a while to be effective. Finally, yes, ticks can spread to other animals. I once found one 4 days after returning from a tick area, on a dog I hadn't taken. The dogs that went with me were on Proban for the trip and were fine but 4 days later one of the dogs left at home had a tiny, just attached, paralysis tick on his eyelid. So lucky it decided to attach there or I would never have found it. Dogs have also been known to pick up ticks at shows in non-tick areas if they are with dogs from tick areas. Edited October 31, 2011 by dancinbcs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kazads Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 Ticks are rampant on the East Coast of Oz - we are in for a terrible season I feel. Already, I have pulled 5 paralysis ticks off my Great Dane pup in less then two weeks! Quite frightening as you don't know how they may be affected. My boy was fine in each case - I monitored him closely in case there was a change in his behaviour or he went off his food (he LOVES food so this would have been a major sign that something was wrong). I would keep an eye on him for a couple of days and get to the vets if he seems weak in the back legs or starts vomiting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Fox Posted October 31, 2011 Author Share Posted October 31, 2011 Removing ticks at 3mm means that the dog is unlikely to be affected. It sounds like the ticks were on her coat but did not embed into her for a day or so. The main worry is that there may be another that you missed, in an ear or the anus or even down the throat. Ticks usually have to be embedded for 2-6 days to cause a problem and if they are all removed she should be fine if there are no symptoms in about 2 days. From first symptoms you usually have a day or so but a lot of owners miss the first symptoms. Once they collapse you only have hours at most. Our vets recommend Frontline be put on if you find a tick in case there is any others that have been missed as it will kill them within hours. Advantix doesn't work immediately on attached ticks it apparently needs to be on a while to be effective. Finally, yes, ticks can spread to other animals. I once found one 4 days after returning from a tick area, on a dog I hadn't taken. The dogs that went with me were on Proban for the trip and were fine but 4 days later one of the dogs left at home had a tiny, just attached, paralysis tick on his eyelid. So lucky it decided to attach there or I would never have found it. Dogs have also been known to pick up ticks at shows in non-tick areas if they are with dogs from tick areas. Thank you. This is very much in line with what her breeder has said. However he did say that ticks in their area are usually resistant to frontline plus so Advantix (if anything) was preferable. I am wondering whether a flea/tick bath would be the best and most gentle option for the pup and my older boy though? Given that there's no chance that either could pick them up again where we live? I'll keep checking both of them but will have to order treatment if needed as the vets here only stock frontline plus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Fox Posted October 31, 2011 Author Share Posted October 31, 2011 Good pickup SecretKei. I have my fingers crossed she is OK Thanks Ptolomy. She's a tough little nut, I'm sure she'll be okay . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dandybrush Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 can i ask pple finding ticks on their dogs are they using tick prevention also? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisovar Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 If it was my pup I would probably rinse the pup in Fidos Rinse Concentrate or Cotex Hydrokill Rinse. Finding here that Frontline is having little to no effect, and Advantix takes too long if you have already found ticks on them. We are seeing Paralysis ticks here for the first time, and from all reports the problem is very widespread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacqui835 Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 I have pulled ticks off my dog and had no issues, as they were literally 1-2mm. However unfortunately my cat once had 5 (this was how I learned to check for them - and how important it was to do something about them). I didn't know she had any parasites on her, but I did notice that her back legs were wobbly when she was trying to climb onto my lap. I rushed her immediately to the vet (after hours emergency) and he told me there was a less than 50% chance they would be able to save her. Fortunately she did survive and I now check my pets almost every day. I moved to SA at the start of this year and luckily there don't seem to be any ticks here, but checking is now a habit - and my pets enjoy the extra "patting/grooming sessions". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Fox Posted October 31, 2011 Author Share Posted October 31, 2011 If it was my pup I would probably rinse the pup in Fidos Rinse Concentrate or Cotex Hydrokill Rinse. Finding here that Frontline is having little to no effect, and Advantix takes too long if you have already found ticks on them. We are seeing Paralysis ticks here for the first time, and from all reports the problem is very widespread. Husband is on his way to the vets shortly to see if they have any. Otherwise I'd have to order online and it would take a few days to reach me. By which stage it might be useless? Is there anything that can be bought from either Woolworths or Big W? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 If it was my pup I would probably rinse the pup in Fidos Rinse Concentrate or Cotex Hydrokill Rinse. Finding here that Frontline is having little to no effect, and Advantix takes too long if you have already found ticks on them. We are seeing Paralysis ticks here for the first time, and from all reports the problem is very widespread. Husband is on his way to the vets shortly to see if they have any. Otherwise I'd have to order online and it would take a few days to reach me. By which stage it might be useless? Is there anything that can be bought from either Woolworths or Big W? No idea what supermarkets stock for ticks but if you cannot treat with anything just keep searching them for a week and watch for any odd signs. A change in their bark or even a droopy ear can be the first sign, well before the vomiting and wobbly leg stage. If everyone is all ok for a week you should be in the clear and not have to worry about them again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussielover Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 Thats a worry! I had not thought they were in SA either! Glad she appears to be ok! I live in a heavy tick area and its not fun I'm yet to find one on my dog though and she does a lot of bush walking. She also swims a lot. I use advantix. I had not heard that ticks were becoming resistant to frontline?! Something to keep in mind though, thanks for letting us know. I was actually going to use frontline spray on my dog as well, but I think I won't bother now. I will use permoxin spray instead. You could try to get some permoxin spray- you migt be able to get some from stockfeed type stores but be careful to check the dosage, maybe ask your vet? I think it works immediately to kill any attached ticks because its what we use on tick dogs at work... 2-3mm is a very small tick, so unlikely to cause major probs, especially if it wanst attached for long. I would keep a close eye on her though and try to keep her as quiet as possible (a big ask I know lol) for the next few days just in case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Fox Posted October 31, 2011 Author Share Posted October 31, 2011 Went searching this afternoon. All I was able to get was Purina total care flea control shampoo. The bottle says "kills fleas and aids in the control of paralysis tick". No idea if this would be useful or safe on a young pup? Might be worth using on my older dog as a precaution.. So far so good though and we have another vet check on Wednesday. She is still bright, happy and feral as ever. I don't think this girl knows what "quiet" is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Fox Posted October 31, 2011 Author Share Posted October 31, 2011 You could try to get some permoxin spray- you migt be able to get some from stockfeed type stores but be careful to check the dosage, maybe ask your vet? I think it works immediately to kill any attached ticks because its what we use on tick dogs at work... The vet did have some but apparently it's not suitable for young pups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flux Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 Good luck with it! Keep searching and rinsing with what you have. Any sign of ANY un-wellness jump in the car and drive! Mind you If you look at the pinned "tick" post at the top of the forum I've had a rough time with them lately! Small pup, I myself would be in the car in a flash if an ear went droopy! Just a reminder too folks PERMOXIN will kill a cat! Great for dogs, but if a cat even grooms the dog with it on, it will get very sick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Rusty Bucket Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 Are Proban tablets still available. I'm pretty sure I have some from last November's trip east. The site I got them from says "discontinued by manufacturer" but not why. My dog was only on them for a few weeks and I haven't noticed any problems and we didn't get any ticks but some other dogs at the venue did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 can i ask pple finding ticks on their dogs are they using tick prevention also? I've heard of several lately that have been treated with Advantix. The dogs have all survived with moderate to no symptoms, so even though they are still getting ticks it seems to reduce the amount of poison they can inject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marina Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 We have pulled dozens of ticks off the dogs lately. If you have seen no symptoms within 2 days of detaching the ticks your pup is well and I wouldn't be to concerned. Keep your pup cool and as quiet as possible for at least a week to ensure any lingering lethargy. I would use a tick wash, fidos is good or a tea tree shampoo will do as well. You might want to wash your other dogs and cats as well, but I doubt the ticks would have jumped off a perfectly good host. If your pup had these ticks on them for two days and they were the strong paralysis tick your pup would have been showing symptoms of paralysis especially if it had more than one. So another reason not to stress to much. It sound like you had the good paralysis tick if their is such a thing. Mind you this tick is also deadly if on the dog long enough. It is a very bad season for ticks and all puppy buyers should go over their puppies very carefully or better still ask the breeder to tick wash the pups first although they shouldn't need to be asked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisovar Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 (edited) Are Proban tablets still available. I'm pretty sure I have some from last November's trip east. The site I got them from says "discontinued by manufacturer" but not why. My dog was only on them for a few weeks and I haven't noticed any problems and we didn't get any ticks but some other dogs at the venue did. Proban is no longer being produced. Edited October 31, 2011 by Crisovar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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