Flea & Tick Control

Fleas

Fleas are notoriously problematic parasites. At some point in your pet ownership or someone you know who has pets, will have a flea problem.

If you come across any fleas on your pet, this is only a small portion of your problem. 95 percent of your problem is in the environment. Part of the problem is that fleas thrive in sandy environments and we live on an island. An adult female flea can lay 50 eggs a day, therefore when there is a flea problem, it needs to be dealt with immediately. 

Fleas are more prevalent in the warmer months and to help combat the flea problem you should regularly wash your pets bedding, jackets and anything else they sleep on in a hot wash and leave it in the sun to dry. Vacuuming in the crevices in your house where your pet sleeps will help too.
If you can’t see fleas on your pet, you may be able to find flea dirt. Fleas consume your pet’s blood and their faeces appear black or brown in colour and looks like dirt. If you find some on your pet you should give your pet a flea preventative treatment. For more advice, call our team on 03 5952 2936

Ticks

The most common ticks infesting dogs in Australia are the paralysis tick, the brown dog tick, and the bush tick

On Phillip  Island, we  see ticks every once in a while, particularly the bush tick, cat tick (Ixodes hirsti) and possum tick (Ixodes tasmani). .

Paralysis ticks

Ticks are a problematic parasite. Along the east coast, there is a type of tick called the paralysis tick (Ixodesholocyclus).

After attaching to your dog or cat, the tick feeds on their blood, injecting small amounts of toxin that causes the connection between the nerves and the muscles throughout the body to become disrupted. This causes weakness and ultimately paralysis.
This is not just limited to the muscles involved in standing and walking, but also those inside, such as those involved in breathing and in swallowing.

Common signs of Tick Paralysis

  • Incoordination
  • Weakness
  • Collapse
  • Vomiting or retching
  • Change in vocalisation
  • Difficulty breathing

We are lucky on Phillip Island, where we have not had paralysis tick be a problem. However, we have had some confirmed cases that have travelled to the island from local dogs that have been on holiday or dogs travelling down to the island for a holiday. It is important that you check the area you are travelling to for any potential health risks for your pet.

How to check your dog for ticks:

Gently slide your fingers through your pets’ fur from head to tail to toes. Don’t forget to check the ears and mouth! Make your way down each leg and check between the toes too. If you feel any lumps or bumps, part the fur to get a visual and examine.

Tips for reducing the risk of tick paralysis include:

  • The year-round use of effective tick control products for all dogs and cats that are living in, or travelling to, known paralysis tick regions.
  • Search your dog daily for ticks - although tick control products will greatly reduce the risk of tick paralysis, it only takes one tick to cause tick paralysis. For this reason, it is important to also perform daily tick searches on your pet.
  • Reduce exposure to ticks in the environment (e.g. clean up leaf litter and debris, minimise or restrict your pet’s access to bushy environments)
  • If you find a tick, remove it immediately, and seek veterinary attention
We are more than happy to show you how to do a thorough tick search and recommend appropriate tick control products for your pet. Please call us to discuss.