TICK, TICK: Our experience of the paralysis tick
No pet owner wants to find their pet paralysed. This happened to us on Sunday.
Setting the scene
- Picking my husband up froom the airport early Sunday morning
- Looking after my neighbours dogs as well as my own pets and kids.
- Preparing for a 10 year olds’ birthday party
Ok so life is busy. But something still told me all was not right with my youngest and largest cat Leo on Sunday morning He had not had his breakfast and I had not seen him that morning. I went looking.
I found him in a corner of the garden, apparently snoozing. I picked him up and put him down again – nothing. He could not walk. Then I heard him breathing – slow, laboured. I knew immediately (because it had happened once before). Paralysis tick.
Leo shaved & in hospital
Hospital
Off we went to the emergency animal hospital Sash (small animal specialist hospital) which fortunately is quite near where we live, There we found two ticks and Leo was admitted.
Leo was shaved, sprayed with Frontline, anti-tick venom given and fluids administered. It takes 48 hours for the toxin to be removed from the body so we had to wait and see if Leo could recover or whether he would continue a downhill slide.
Fortunately Leo recovered well. He is a quiet fighter. A day later, he was improving steadily, not enough to come home as he had not eaten solid food yet (the toxin affects their swallowing reflex). We went to visit him in hospital.
Sash (small animal specialist hospital) were great. Under the care of Dr Lisa Chimes and the other vets and staff there, we were kept informed at all times. On our visit we had a private cat room where the whole family gathered to give Leo his daily cuddles and to encourage him to eat, as he had not yet done so.
Today we got the happy news that Leo could return home. Home to a quiet, calm household. Ok when not everything’s possible. But we are keeping him as calm as possible. He has his own private eating and sleeping quarters but still with plenty of cuddles.
Paralysis ticks
If you would like to know more about paralysis ticks (and if you live in east coast Australia, you should!), please read these facts:
A happy family
We are so happy to have Leo home again. Lucky and happy!
View Comments (7)
RT @JoanneRighetti: Tick, tick - check your pet for ticks, here's why... .
RT @JoanneRighetti: Tick, tick - check your pet for ticks, here's why... .
Update on Leo ...
Leo is progressing well. He is fully recovered from his tick ordeal but we still check him everyday for any more ticks (we have bandicoots coming in to our garden and they are the hosts).
His hair has started to grow back but he still looks like a gangly adolescent - all legs, skinny body. He certainly lost his majestic image with the loss of his hair. Maine coons needs their mane! King Leo will return!
Wow, I had no idea this sort of thing existed! Makes me kind of glad I do not live in eastern Australia! (Although I am sure it is a nice place to live.) I'm very happy that Leo is recovering. And that his fur is growing back... I always wondered what a Maine Coon looked like without all the floof.
RT @JoanneRighetti: All about paralysis ticks - fact sheets & my experience .
that would be 'live', not love... he he!
Well, if you have pets, you presumably love them... ;-)