Tick Paralysis - Symptoms and Warnings
Simply put, tick paralysis is a paralysis in animals caused by a tick, especially certain female tick breeds, which secrete a toxin which affects the nervous system of mammals. What happens, is that a tick bite can produce a flaccid paralysis, which leaves your dog with no muscular tone, feeling weak. Some mammals are not affected by tick bites, such as cats, as they seem to be immune to it, and likewise, not all breeds of dogs are effected, and even some animals only experience some side effects in their hind limbs.
However, while some animals are not quite as affected by tick bites as others, some pets may fall into an extremely critical condition which can ascend up the entire body and affect their respiratory system and front limbs. Thus, it is very important to be able to recognize and distinguish tick paralysis so that the symptoms and be put under control before things get out of hand.
Read on to find out how you effectively get rid of the affects of a tick bite.
Warning Signs
The normal time for symptoms to being showing is anywhere from five to seven days, but keep in mind that one tick bite can take a lot longer to show, as multiple tick bites will show paralysis sooner. The problem is, however, that since dogs are so furry, it can be hard to even notice a tick in the first place, as they can burrow themselves to the base of the skin, but the very first signs are weakness and in coordination in the hind legs. Your dog will not have a fever or other regular illness symptoms, but you may also notice that he/she will have difficulty chewing, swallowing, and breathing.
Since death can occur within hours from respiratory failure, because of the muscle paralysis caused, it is absolutely critical that you check for these signs.
Diagnosing for Paralysis
Most often, paralysis is diagnosed based on the symptoms, and also if your dog has a rapidly worsening condition.
Being able to diagnose your dog can also depend on the time of year, and where you live, as ticks are more predominant during certain seasons, but regardless of what season it is, a small tick can still infect your dog, which is why you should get the tick(s) removed. Since the diagnosis relies a lot on the early signs of paralysis, you should also regularly check your dog for ticks, especially if you notice his/her behavior change, or if you are often outdoors in regions where there are ticks.
Treatment for Tick Paralysis
The cure for the problem is simple, as all you have to do is remove and and all ticks on your dog. This may be difficult if your dog often has a lot of fur, which means you may have to literally shave your dog to find the tick(s), before they cause serious damage to your dog.
Upon removal of any and all ticks, your dog may require future care from a veterinarian or may require some supportive care, such as artificial respiration.
You may also want to consider an antitoxin to be administered to your dog, so that your dog can cure faster.
