Dog Tick Borne Paralysis
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Disturbing Phone Call
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My Dad phoned me yesterday with some unsettling news
about his 10 year old Bearded Collie- Jessie.
Jessie’s back legs were ‘not working right’
He was wobbling from side to side, and his
paws were folding under themselves..
A sudden onset of paralysis.
I had my Dad to a basic exam of Jessie,
and came to the conclusion that it was
a sudden onset of paralysis, and it was
NON painful..
And then guess what?
Well the differentials for a sudden onset of non painful
paralysis are pretty small.
The most common one?
Tick Borne Paralysis..
It is caused by a neurotoxin produced in the tick’s salivary gland. After prolonged attachment, the engorged tick transmits the toxin to your dog or cat.
The toxin causes symptoms within 2-7 days, beginning with weakness in both legs that progresses to paralysis. The paralysis ascends to trunk, arms, and head within hours and may lead to respiratory failure and death. The disease can present as acute ataxia without muscle weakness.
Tick paralysis is believed to be due to toxins found in the tick’s saliva that enter the bloodstream while the tick is feeding. The two ticks most commonly associated with North American tick paralysis are the Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni) and the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis);
Most North American cases of tick paralysis occur from April to June, when adult Dermacentor ticks emerge from hibernation and actively seek hosts.
Tick paralysis occurs when an engorged and gravid (egg-laden) female tick produces a neurotoxin in its salivary glands and transmits it to its host during feeding.
Removal of the embedded tick usually results in resolution of symptoms within several hours to days. If the tick is not removed, the toxin can be fatal, with reported mortality rates of 10–12 percent, usually due to respiratory paralysis.
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So WHAT happened?
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I told my Dad and brother to look for a Tick by Jessie’s ear ( they like to hide behind ears)
And sure enough they found an engorged female tick.
And now Jessie is back to his normal gopher/sheep/cow chasing self-
Everyone is now relieved (minus the gophers/sheep/cows)
Now if you are looking for more of these quick and easy At Home Solutions to
your dogs and cat’s health problems, I advise my NEW Digital Book:
…Until next time
Dr Andrew J
Hi Dr. Jones,
So glad to hear Jesse is back to his old self.
What method do you recommend for removing a tick?
Thanks,
Jean
We recommend using fine tipped tweezers to gently grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, then pull it straight out slowly and steadily. Avoid twisting or squeezing the tick. Once it’s out, clean the area and keep an eye on your pup for any signs of weakness or unusual movement. Tick paralysis can be serious, so prompt removal is key.
Re: Tick paralysis
What scares me is that I have two big black Newfie dogs and don’t have a clue how I would ever see a tick in their thick black coats. Any suggestions?
Check by feel, not just by sight. Run your hands through the coat daily, especially around the ears, neck, toes, and collar. Ticks love to hide there!
Hi! Doc!!
When I read the first few lines-my heart sank! So glad to see you dad has his best friend back to share love!
I’m on my way out to my Co-host’s dog’s funeral. Radar a beautiful German Shepard 3 years young,died on Mommy’s Day-went through the autopsy yesterday,my birthday,and services today.
I will email more about Radar’s death. My heart is real heavy now-will take some time to heal.
Blessings!
Animallover-Jan
We’re so sorry about Radar. Three years is far too short, and we know that kind of loss leaves a very heavy heart. Take all the time you need to grieve and remember the beautiful moments you shared.
amazing. The same thing happened to my dog, Chaka (a doberman pincher) back in 1988.
Chaka was definitely giving you a scare back in 1988. Tick paralysis can come on surprisingly fast, but thankfully, finding and removing the tick can make a huge difference.
Hi to Judith regarding her Newfies..I’m a groomer, and we find many ticks as we are drying the dogs. My suggestion is to get a regular hair dryer, keep it on warm/cool setting and blow the hair away down to the skin. This will help you find the ticks.
Blowing the coat gently on a cool or warm setting can really help reveal those hidden ticks, especially around the ears, neck, and between the toes. And with ticks, a thorough check can make a big difference. Thanks for sharing this helpful grooming trick!
Did Jessie need any medication for the tick bite? I am a groomer and over the past two years, we have had many clients fall ill and die from exposure to tick bites. I feel it’s a silent epidemic in the northeast (united states). I feel the state’s agriculture department should start monitoring the fatalities of dogs due to tick borne diseases. The only problem is that may vets won’t recognize these facts!
Once the tick was found and removed, he recovered quickly. Tick borne diseases can be serious, so early detection and a good tick check are key!
Thanks for the great info.
I have a question about the tick problem that the article didn’t address.
Can the ticks also transmit the paralysis to humans and cats or does this only affect dogs ?
Tick paralysis can affect cats too, and rarely, humans. It’s caused by a toxin from certain ticks, so always check for ticks if sudden weakness or wobbliness occurs.
happy to hear jessie is doing good i whould be horified if any thing happened to my dog she is not onely my dog she is my best frend she goes every ware with me
They’re family, best friends, and always right there beside us. We’re so happy Jessie made a full recovery and got back to her gopher, sheep, and cow chasing ways!
happy to hear jessie is doing good i whould be horified if any thing happened to my dog she is not onely my dog she is my best frend she goes every ware with me how did you get the tick off can it get cats or people
We’re so glad Jessie is doing well. We found the tick and removed it, and thankfully she recovered quickly. Yes, certain ticks can affect dogs and cats, and some can even bite people. The good news is that quick tick removal is very important. Give your best friend an extra cuddle from us!
Really interesting and useful info. It’s something we don’t see much of (I’ve never seen a case of it) here in Toronto. Thanks very much for sharing and I’m really glad to hear your parents’ dog has recovered.
Your fellow Canadian vet,
Clifford
We don’t see it often either, which is exactly why it’s such a good reminder to keep tick paralysis on the radar. Thankfully, Jessie made a full recovery after that sneaky little tick was found. One tiny tick, one very big problem!
this happened to my sister’s wolf hybred, but he never did recover and had to be put to sleep.
Sadly, tick paralysis can become severe very quickly and may lead to breathing failure if the tick isn’t found and removed. We’re so sorry your sister and her wolf hybrid went through that.
We just had a dog brought in to our shelter today with this condition. It was abandoned, and found by a good samaritan who had brought him to the vet to be euthanized. He was almost completely paralyzed, but the vet found the tick and removed it. Grady is now recovering comfortably at our shelter, and will hopefully find a new home with owners who will think before dumping their dog in the woods to die.
Tick paralysis can progress quickly, but finding and removing the tick can make a huge difference. We’re so glad this good Samaritan stepped in and that Grady is now recovering. Fingers crossed he finds the loving home he deserves!
Doc. I believe that my doggy just got that!!! im seraching online in the vets office… yet it relates a similar event to the one that happened in my house… my doggy gave a loud howl then fell on the ground unstable and his head twisted about 170 degrees… i just hope he can make it out..
juan
miami florida
A sudden collapse, severe loss of balance, and head twisting can have several possible causes, including a serious neurologic problem. Tick paralysis is one possibility, especially if there is a tick attached, but we cannot diagnose it from these signs alone. Please stay with your dog and let the veterinary team know exactly what happened. We’re hoping for the best for your dog and you.
I find this information quite relevant. This year the ticks in the Saskatoon, SK, area have been out of control. My dogs are getting jumped by ticks continuously. In the past month I have probably pulled dozens off of each. In a recent 3 day span I counted over 40 ticks that I pulled off of my dogs and my family. We do spend a lot of time outdoors. In a previous 2 day span I pulled 7 ticks off the dogs in various stages of engorgement and put them in a jar. My daughter’s teacher was very interested in seeing them for educational purposes. Some of the ticks I pulled off the dogs have been very engorged. It is hard to think that I would miss these guys considering I am always checking! This is happening when they are in my back yard or out in trails. And I live within the city! I have never seen it like this. Now, to the point, my 10 year old Sheppard seems to be OK, but I have noticed her back legs are getting a little unsteady. I thought it was simply due to her advancing age. However, based on the news I have just read in this web site I will now seek a vet’s advice.
With that much exposure, we’re glad you’re taking the back leg weakness seriously. Tick paralysis can cause sudden weakness or wobbliness and can progress quickly, so having your vet check her is absolutely the right move. And keep doing those tick checks, especially around the ears and head. Stay safe out there!
I just heard that the Lyme Disease vaccine for dogs is not very effective AND that ticks are now resistant to FrontLine. Yikes, I guess I better step up the tick patrol!
I am really paranoid about Lyme Disease and had my doctor check for ticks during my annual skin check. She also wrote a great post called Lyme Aid that I thought was extremely informative (though disheartening)
http://www.kraussderm.com/frequently-asked-questions/lyme-aid
Tick prevention can help reduce the risk of several tick borne diseases, and checking your dog regularly is one of the simplest things we can do. Tick paralysis is also a serious concern in some areas, so finding and removing ticks early really matters. Better a little paranoid than a tick party!