It is tick season and this year seems to be worse than normal as paralysis ticks affect wildlife and domestic animals.
Wildlife carer on Russell Island Sharon Keegan, who cares for birds, said the ticks have been very bad this year.
“At this time of the year 99 per cent of the birds I get have ticks on them,” Ms Keegan said.
“I had a rosella that had one inside its mouth. I also have a juvenile galah who had a tick, and a coucal, who had too many to count.”
Redlands veterinarian Dr Katria Lovell said the extent of the paralysis tick problem has been about twice as bad as in previous years.
Her practice, Redlands Veterinary Clinic, has seen 73 pets for paralysis ticks since the beginning of September.
Dr Lovell said pets also seemed to be more sick than in the past and she is seeing wildlife, including birds and possums, that are sick from the paralysis ticks.
“Usually possums and bandicoots are resistant to the paralysis tick, but we are seeing wildlife affected,” Dr Lovell said.
“We had an injured possum brought in to us that had 14 ticks on him.”
Dr Lovell said the best way to prevent pets from getting sick from the ticks is to check them every day.
“There are also a variety of over-the-counter preventables.”
Dr Lovell said cats should be kept indoors as much as possible and long-haired cats can be clipped.
Animals should be taken to a vet as soon as possible if a tick is found.
Symptoms of tick paralysis include hind limb weakness, vomiting, coughing and unusual meowing or barking sounds.
Dr Lovell said symptoms can appear up to 10 days after a tick is removed.
