Overview:
Tick season is
now upon us & it is time for all cat & dog owners to be alert to
these potentially fatal parasites.
Prevention of
ticks:
If your cat is
permitted to go outside, either free roaming or in an enclosure
then there is no sure fire way to prevent ticks, but there
are some
products on the market which will assist in deterring them. These include;
-
Frontline Plus
Top Spot
-
Frontline Spray (this is not registered for use on
cats, but my veterinarian has said that it is safe to use).
-
Proban tablets, 1/4 of a tablet every 2 days.
-
Fido’s Fre-Itch
Rinse
Checking for
ticks:
Even if you are
using the above treatments, it is still important to check your
cat for ticks every day.
Begin with the
head. Carefully check (by looking and feeling with your hands).
Don't forget to check inside the ears & under the chin/throat
areas.
Move down to
the front legs, not forgetting to check between the toes.
Feel along the
cat's body, including the belly. Move down to the rear legs,
again checking between the toes.
Inspect the
cat's genital region as ticks can sometimes be found there, &
finish with the tail.
Removal of ticks:
It is
recommended you wear a pair of latex gloves while removing a
tick. Using tweezers or a tick remover (you can purchase these
for a few dollars from your veterinarian) firmly grasp the
tick's head, as close to the cat's skin as possible. Be
extremely careful not to squeeze the body of the tick as this
will inject more poison & pathogens into the cat's system. You
can also kill the tick while it's still on the cat by using an
appropriate insecticide, such as Frontline spray.
Signs of tick
poisoning:
Symptoms of tick paralysis include;
-
Loss of appetite
-
Vomiting
or dry retching, excessive salivation,
difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing,
coughing.
-
Change to meow.
-
Coughing.
-
Noisy panting.
-
Difficulty
swallowing.
As symptoms
progress you may notice;
-
Limb
weakness, starting in the hind legs, progressing to
the front legs, appearing wobbly &
uncoordinated, falling over, paralysis.
-
Incontinence.
-
Laboured
breathing.
-
Coma.
If you notice
any of the above symptoms seek veterinary advice immediately.
References:
Photos & images
courtesy of Norbert
Fischer; BVSc MACVSc
Norbert's page
seems to have moved, so I am now linking to
Tick Alert,
which Norbert appears to be a part of. This is an incredibly
informative site.
