Overview:

Tick season is now upon us & it is time for all cat & dog owners to be alert to these potentially fatal parasites. This article looks at how to check for ticks, preventing ticks, symptoms of tick poisoning & how to safely remove ticks from your pet.

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.