While rare, tick paralysis can cause extreme harm to your dog. The saliva of a paralysis-causing tick species contains a neurotoxin that leads to paralysis. The symptoms include weakness in the hind limbs and difficulty breathing. The ticks that cause paralysis are most commonly found in the U.S. and Australia and thrive in hot, humid climates. A veterinarian will diagnose tick paralysis based on clinical signs and/or the presence of a tick. When the tick is removed promptly, the prognosis is good, and your dog will typically recover within days. If untreated, the paralysis can be fatal.

What Is Tick Paralysis?

Tick paralysis is a rare but serious condition caused by a neurotoxin in the saliva of certain species of ticks. The neurotoxin causes paralysis that starts in the dog's lower extremities and travels to the rest of the body. Signs usually begin after a tick has been attached for two to seven days. The Australian Ixodes holocyclus tick causes the most severe paralysis and some species of ticks in the U.S. can also cause tick paralysis.

Symptoms of Tick Paralysis in Dogs

Tick paralysis in dogs is potentially life-threatening. Visit your vet right away if you suspect your dog has been exposed to a paralysis-causing tick or if your dog shows any signs of hindlimb weakness, inability to walk, or difficulty breathing.

The symptoms of tick paralysis in dogs are wide-ranging and will worsen if the tick is not removed. Symptoms typically occur two to nine days after a tick bite. Paralysis symptoms usually begin with hindlimb weakness and may progress to vomiting, difficulty eating, changes in the sound of a dog's bark, inability to walk, and/or inability to move the legs, among other concerning manifestations. Your dog may have difficulty breathing, leading to death if untreated. If any of these changes occur in your dog, visit your vet immediately and be sure to mention if you have been in an area known to have ticks, or if you have seen any ticks on your pets.

Causes of Tick Paralysis

There are around 850 different tick species around the world, but only a few of these can cause tick paralysis in dogs.

• Species: Tick paralysis may be caused by ticks in of many different genera, including Ixodes such as the Black Legged tick, Dermacentor such as the American Dog tick, Amblyomma such as the Lone Star tick, Rhipicephalus such as the Brown Dog tick, Haemaphysalis such as the Longhorned tick, Otobius, and Argas. In Australia, the most common species are Ixodes holocyclus, Ixodes cornuatus, and Ixodes hirsti.
• Geography: Most commonly, ticks that cause tick paralysis are found in Australia, North America, Europe, and South Africa. If you live in the southeastern U.S., your dog may also be at higher risk of coming into contact with these ticks, however, ticks are found throughout the U.S. and many other countries and their presence is continuing to expand into new territories.
• Climate: Ticks are more prevalent in high-humidity areas. The Australian coast is particularly habitable to paralysis-causing ticks. Most cases of tick paralysis are reported between April and June in the U.S. when ticks are coming out of hibernation.

How Vets Diagnose Tick Paralysis in Dogs

A vet can diagnose tick paralysis easily if your dog shows paralysis symptoms in conjunction with the presence of an attached tick. If there is no attached tick, your vet will look for signs of redness or scabbing on the skin that might indicate a recent tick bite, however there is not always clear evidence of where a tick bite occurred in dogs. There is no single test to diagnose tick paralysis.

If your dog is suffering from symptoms such as weakness, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and/or abnormal neurological signs, your vet may run additional diagnostic tests. This may include labwork such as a complete blood count, chemistry profile, and/or urinalysis to check for signs of infection, and/or organ dysfunction. X-rays and an ultrasound may also be helpful in looking for other abnormalities including problems with the heart, lungs, or internal organs.

How to Treat Tick Paralysis in Dogs

When the paralysis-causing ticks are removed, the supply of neurotoxin is cut off. Most dogs will begin to improve within 8 hours and usually completely recover within 72 hours. It is crucial to remove all the ticks right away as there may be multiple ticks attached to one dog. This requires a very thorough exam of the whole body, and for long-hair dogs, it may help to shave the fur in order to uncover all the ticks.

Ticks should be removed properly in order to avoid leaving behind mouthparts that can continue to cause problems. Until paralysis symptoms improve, your dog should be hospitalized for supportive care. If the tick paralysis has caused respiratory distress or gastrointestinal signs, your vet might want to treat your dog with additional supportive measures including oxygen supplementation and medications to help control nausea and/or vomiting.

How to Prevent Tick Paralysis in Dogs

The only way to prevent tick paralysis is to prevent ticks from attaching to your dog and/or remove them right away if they do attach. Be sure to use an effective preventative such as a monthly topical treatment to prevent ticks from attaching to your dog. Your veterinarian can help you find the safest and most effective tick control for your dog. You should also routinely check your dog for ticks, especially if you live where paralysis-causing species are prevalent. Be sure to carefully remove ticks as soon as possible if you do find any. It is a good habit to get into brushing your dog daily and checking for ticks if you live in area where ticks are common. Be sure to do additional checks after hiking or spending time in the woods or thick brush. Become familiar with the signs of tick paralysis, and seek treatment right away if you notice any concerning signs.

Prognosis for Dogs With Tick Paralysis

After the tick is removed and signs are treated, a dog will typically make a full recovery in a few days. If the paralysis has severely affected other organs, the prognosis is dependent on the extent of the damage. Even with treatment, about 5% of dogs may die from tick paralysis. This is more likely if the dog is very young or old or if they had more severe signs including breathing problems or damage to their heart. If the tick is not removed and symptoms persist, it is likely to be fatal.