1. Check if your pet is at risk from paralysis ticks:

• The paralysis tick (Ixodesholocyclus) is generally found on the eastern seaboard, from North Queensland down to Victoria, but can be found in inland pockets too. Native animals maintain the tick population in local scrub and bushland, and can also bring ticks into your yard while foraging at night if you live near bushland.
• Ticks attach to any moving object that brush past them whilst they are on the leaves of shrubs and bushes.
• Many pets that are taken for holidays to the coast end up at the local vet clinic with tick paralysis, as the owners have not planned ahead and started their pet on a tick-control product at least a week prior to leaving home.
• • Even if you take your dog for day trips which could involve walking along bush or fire trails, including scrubby beach-access tracks, they are at risk from ticks attaching. They should be receiving a tick-control product right through the tick season - early to late spring through to mid autumn, to be safe. And don’t forget those daily tick searches (more below)!
  • If moving to a new area, check with the local vet if paralysis ticks are present in the region.

  2. Minimise your pet’s exposure to paralysis ticks:

  • Conduct daily tick searches and remove any ticks found, as no product provides 100% protection from ticks
  • Keep your dog’s coat short to make tick searches easier
  • Keep pets away from bushy areas and pathways; keep lawns short
  • Avoid your pet contacting stray animals and wildlife which may carry ticks
  • Start your pets on a tick-control product immediately - and preferably a few weeks before tick season or travelling to a tick area.

  3. Choose the best tick-control product for your pet

  There are a number of great tick-control products available these days, from budget tick collars and rinse options right through to oral chews and spot-ons that can cover your pet for ticks as well as fleas and other nasties.
  
  Below is a summary of the main tick products available - with handy ‘best points’, and ‘watch out for’ and ‘budget’ /price indicator points to help you choose the product that best suits your pet and lifestyle.

  TICK HOOKS AND TICK KEYS

   

  All pet owners who live or holiday in a tick area should carry a tick hook or tick key to easily remove any ticks found on their pet.

  
  

  ORAL CHEWS

  Oral products can be a good option for dogs that swim regularly as there are no restrictions for swimming or bathing after treatment; also good for any dogs that have experienced skin reactions to topical products in the past. These may also be a good choice for households where owners and children have sensitive skin that may react to topical pet products.

  NexGard

  

  Best points:

  • Once a month tasty chew
  • Kills fleas already on the dog within 8 hours
  • Kills ticks as well as fleas
  • Safe in dogs from 8 weeks old or 2kg bodyweight

  Watch out for:

  • Not for use in cats
  • Ensure entire dose is consumed or you must redose
  • Not tested in breeding animals

  Budget:$ 39.11 To $ 156.46