Treatments for Tick Paralysis in Dogs

Tick paralysis is caused by certain ticks that secrete a toxin into the blood of dogs or other animals it burrows into. It usually takes several ticks on a dog before paralysis begins to show. At first, only the hind legs will show the paralysis, but the front legs will be paralyzed in only a few hours. The dog may soon have difficulty breathing and can die from paralysis to the respiratory system.

  1. Remove Ticks

    • The ticks must be removed for the dog to fully recover. Most ticks are found on the head and neck, but the entire dog must be searched to ensure that all the ticks are removed.

      Ticks are removed by using tweezers or similar instruments designed for tick removal. The tick should be grabbed with the instrument at the head where it enters the skin and pulled out. If the body is squeezed, the tick may release more toxin into the dog.

      An acaricide, which is a pesticide that kills ticks and mites, may be used to kill the ticks before they are removed.

    Recovery

    • Dogs in North America should recover within 24 hours without any other treatment. If they do not, it probably means a tick is still attached to the dog or that the diagnosis for the paralysis was incorrect.

      In Australia, dogs will often get worse because of the kind of tick found only in the country. If a tick is removed from an Australian dog that shows no signs of paralysis, it should still be monitored for the next 24 hours.

    Tick Antiserum

    • Dogs in Australia should also be given tick antiserum as early as possible to combat the potent toxin found in the Australian tick. This is given intravenously. Larger amounts of it will be given to dogs whose paralysis is complete, especially if they are already have problems breathing.

      The dog will need to be hospitalized and kept calm and in a quiet, dark place. Depending on the severity, the dog may need to be placed on a ventilator while under general anesthesia to keep it calm.

    Prevention

    • Dogs that live in areas where ticks are prevalent should be treated with repellents for ticks, but they should also be checked daily for ticks by their owners. Keeping a dog's coat short can aid the owner in checking for ticks.