Experts are alarmed! This year’s tick season could be the deadliest yet—are your pets safe?

Mack, an 18-month-old German shepherd, arrived at the Animal Referral Hospital in Gosford with more than just a routine check-up looming.

His owner had no idea that under his thick coat hid between 80 and 100 paralysis ticks—what Dr Tamsyn Bradley called a 'snow globe amount'.

Without urgent intervention, Mack would have been dead by morning.

Mack’s case was a chilling example of a growing crisis.

Veterinarians across Australia are warning that this could be the deadliest paralysis tick season in years, with traditional seasonal patterns no longer reliable.

Rising temperatures and changing weather patterns have made tick activity a year-round threat.

Early Cases Signal a Dangerous Season

The NSW Far South Coast has already felt the consequences of an early start.

The Moruya Veterinary Hospital treated 11 pets for paralysis tick toxicity in just one week in late August, losing one patient in the process.

Meanwhile, Bega and Cobargo veterinary hospitals reported at least 10 affected animals over two weeks, with three tragically dying.

Each year, approximately 10,000 dogs in eastern Australia suffer from paralysis ticks, with around 500 dying from the condition.

A long-term study of 14,869 cases from 1999 to 2020 found that 9 per cent proved fatal, equating to 1,392 deaths.

Financial Burden of Tick Paralysis

The financial impact is equally severe.

Treatment for severely affected pets can range from $5,000 to $10,000, placing a heavy burden on families, particularly those on fixed incomes.

The cruel irony is that early detection makes treatment straightforward and affordable, but delays can be both tragic and expensive.

Understanding Tick Paralysis

Paralysis ticks inject a neurotoxin that causes progressive paralysis and respiratory failure, which can be fatal if untreated.

Even after removal, the toxin may continue affecting the animal for up to 48 hours.

Nymph ticks, present in large numbers from March to August, can be deadly despite their small size, with studies showing just 50 larvae or five nymphs can kill a 40-gram rat.

Prevention and Daily Checks

Prevention starts with vigilance.

Ticks can attach anywhere, but vets recommend checking ears, back legs, between toes, and under the tail, with most ticks found from the shoulders forward.

Experts stress daily checks for all pets, yet ticks are often not discovered until large enough to feel, by which time toxin exposure may be substantial.

Coastal areas along the east of Australia, particularly NSW's Central Coast, remain the highest-risk zones, while inland areas such as Canberra are safer unless pets visit the coast.

Prevention medications like Nexgard and Bravecto are effective, but supermarket products often fall short.

A simple strategy is to give a fluralaner tablet at the end of August and again in December—one expert suggested remembering Wattle Day (1 September) and New Year’s Day.

Following this routine could drastically reduce deaths and suffering from tick paralysis.

Treatment Realities

Even with intensive care, many pets do not survive if they were not on preventative treatment.

Tick paralysis is treatable if caught early, but delayed diagnosis can lead to complex and expensive treatment, and some animals die despite anti-toxin therapy and breathing support.

Treatment involves removing all ticks, sometimes sedating cats, and carefully monitoring reactions to anti-tick serum.

As Australia’s climate shifts, pet owners must maintain vigilance year-round.

The advice to be seasonally aware has evolved into a daily duty that could mean the difference between life and death.

If you want to see just how quickly paralysis ticks can turn a routine day into a costly emergency, there’s a story that illustrates this perfectly.

One pet owner faced a shocking vet bill after discovering their dog had been affected by a paralysis tick, despite taking preventive measures.

This real-life example highlights why vigilance and proper tick prevention are so critical for every pet owner.

Read more: Pet owner's horrifying discovery could cost Aussies $1,700

Have you noticed changes in tick activity where you live, and what strategies have worked best to protect your pets?