Cat covered in ticks prompts warning from vet

He went outside for a walk last week, only to return covered with the blood-sucking parasites hidden in his fur.

GT will make a full recovery but the incident has sparked a warning from a Redlands Veterinary Clinic vet, who has urged owners to check their pets for the insect.

Dr Charlotte Lee said combing over a dog, cat or guinea pig’s fur every day was the best way to find ticks before too much harm was done.

She said a warm winter meant tick season had begun earlier this year, with three pets – two cats and one dog –  admitted to the clinic with ticks in the past week alone.

“It usually starts in August but (tick season) seems to be starting earlier,” she said.

While all ticks were a worry, owners needed to be aware of paralysis ticks, which injected a neurotoxin into their host while sucking blood.

Dr Lee said symptoms of paralysis included breathing difficulties, changes in a pet’s bark or meow, weakness in a dog’s back legs and vomiting.

Signs could be less obvious in cats. A cat not eating its food was a potential sign it had been bitten.

Dr Lee said said any pet found with a tick should be seen by a vet, with paralysis and other symptoms sometimes not beginning until one or two days after a tick bite.

She said GT was admitted after his owners noticed he was weak and had troubles breathing.

He had fluid in his lungs and could not stand properly.

“We think just the sheer number of ticks that (GT) had on him was just too much for his system to handle, so it was lucky he came in when he did,” Dr Lee said.

While tablets like Simparica and Bravecto can prevent ticks from latching onto dogs, brushing over a pet’s fur is best.

Frontline spray can be used on cats but its ease of application depended on the cat’s temperament.

Indoor animals are not immune, with ticks known to make their way inside homes.

Always consult a vet for animal health care advice.