WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PARALYSIS TICKS
One of the biggest concerns facing pet owners on the eastern coast of Australia is the risk of their pet dying from tick poisoning. Paralysis ticks (ixodes holocyclus) are the most dangerous parasite that can affect your pet and it has been estimated that over 75,000 dogs and cats are paralysed in Australia each year.

HOW DOES THE TICK CAUSE PARALYSIS?
The adult female tick attaches to your dog or cat (the host) and burrows it’s mouthparts into the animal’s skin. It sucks the blood and injects a poisonous neurotoxin called Holocyclotoxin, which is excreted from the tick’s salivary glands, into the host. This toxin damages and destroys the cells of the central nervous system causing paralysis.

WHERE AND WHEN DOES TICK PARALYSIS OCCUR?
The paralysis tick is found mostly on the eastern coast of Australia, from Far North Queensland to Northern Victoria. In North Queensland these ticks are more prevalent from July to December but cases do occur all year round. Areas of natural bush land, creeks etc which harbor native animals, particularly bandicoots, are the most likely areas where paralysis ticks are found. However any animals close to these areas are at risk, as ticks can be carried and dropped in other areas by other animals.