Australian Dog Tick Prevention Guide

Written by Australian Dog Lover 11:18:00 - 0 Comments

dog lying down while a person checks for ticks, with a large, engorged paralysis tick attached to its chest

This guide, compiled from insights provided by Pet Insurance Australia, the Small Animal Specialist Hospital (SASH), and Elanco, offers a comprehensive look at the dangers of tick-borne diseases in Australia and provides practical advice for dog owners on how to protect their pets year-round.

The Year-Round Threat: Paralysis Ticks

Tick paralysis is a life-threatening condition caused by a neurotoxin released by certain species of ticks. The toxin can lead to progressive, ascending paralysis, which often starts with weakness in the hind legs and moves forward. In severe cases, this can lead to respiratory failure.

"In severe cases, it can result in respiratory failure,” says Nadia Crighton from Pet Insurance Australia.

“Common signs include unsteadiness when walking, difficulty standing, laboured breathing, lethargy, changes in vocalisation, loss of appetite, and vomiting.”

A paralysis tick engorged with dog blood on the left, and a normal-sized paralysis tick on the right, with a pen next to them for scale

New data confirms that the threat of tick paralysis is not limited to warmer months. The Small Animal Specialist Hospital (SASH) has confirmed over 700 cases of tick paralysis in pets since early 2023, with cases occurring year-round. While most cases are seen along the east coast, a recent case in Adelaide highlights the expanding range of this threat.

PetSure’s 2025 Pet Health Monitor reveals that treatment for tick paralysis can be extremely costly, with some individual claims exceeding $57,000.

"These new SASH figures and PetSure data show clearly—tick risks don’t disappear in cooler months. Year-round prevention is critical to keep pets safe and avoid serious treatment costs,” Crighton warns.

The Spreading Threat: Ehrlichiosis

In addition to paralysis ticks, Australian dogs face a growing threat from ehrlichiosis, a potentially fatal bacterial disease transmitted by the brown dog tick. Since its first detection in Australia in 2020, ehrlichiosis has spread rapidly across the northern and central parts of the country and is now increasingly seen in southern states.

a brown and black dog appears lethargic, a common sign of ehrlichiosis infection

Dr. Liisa Ahlstrom, Technical Veterinarian at Elanco, warns of the alarming speed and severity of this disease. "In some areas where access to veterinary care is limited, it’s been estimated that up to 80% of dogs have died. It’s been heart-breaking witnessing the devastating impact of this disease.”

Early symptoms of ehrlichiosis include fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, and lethargy. In later stages, dogs may suffer from bleeding disorders, cloudy eyes, and organ damage.

Unlike with some other diseases, there is currently no vaccine for ehrlichiosis. Treatment can be long and costly, and while dogs can recover, they may experience relapses as the bacteria can "hide" within the body.

The Crucial Difference in Prevention

A key point of confusion for many pet owners is that some tick products, while effective at killing ticks, may not prevent diseases like ehrlichiosis. This is because ehrlichiosis can be transmitted to a dog within just a few hours of a tick bite, while many products take 2-3 days to kill the tick.

"It’s critical for dog owners to understand that to protect their pet from ehrlichiosis, they must use a tick product that repels ticks, to stop them biting and transmitting the bacteria that cause the disease,” says Dr. Ahlstrom.

Guide to Protecting Your Dog from Ticks

Use Year-Round Prevention

The most important step is to use veterinarian-recommended tick prevention products 12 months a year. These products should be discussed with your local vet to ensure your pet is adequately protected, especially if you live in or are travelling to a known tick-prone area.

✔️ For Paralysis Ticks: Crighton from Pet Insurance Australia advises, "In Australia, several preventative treatments are available to protect pets from paralysis ticks, and we strongly advise all pet owners to discuss protection with their local veterinarian to ensure their pets are kept safe.”

✔️ For Ehrlichiosis: Dr. Ahlstrom recommends using a product that repels ticks to stop them from biting in the first place. This is crucial for preventing the transmission of the bacteria that cause the disease.

Conduct Daily Tick Checks

a person wearing blue surgical gloves removes tick from dog's face using a yellow tick twist remover

Even with preventative products, daily tick searches are a critical part of a good prevention strategy. Ticks love to hide in warm, hard-to-see places.

✔️ Where to Check: Pay special attention to your dog's ears, mouth, lips, and under the tail.

✔️ When to Check: Perform checks daily, especially if your dog spends time outdoors in grassy or bushland areas or socializes with other dogs.

Know the Symptoms and Act Immediately

Being able to recognise the signs of a tick-borne illness can be the difference between life and death for your pet.

✔️ Signs of Tick Paralysis: Look for limb weakness, unsteadiness, lethargy, coughing, or vomiting. Tick paralysis is a medical emergency that requires immediate veterinary care.

✔️ Signs of Ehrlichiosis: Watch for lethargy, fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, or unusual bleeding or bruising. These symptoms also warrant immediate veterinary attention.

Research Your Travel Destinations

Geographical spread of paralysis, bush, brown, and cattle ticks in Australia, with an outline of each tick species for identification

"Even if you don’t live in a known tick-prone area, it’s crucial to research your travel destination,” says Crighton. Many pet owners are caught off guard when visiting regions with high tick activity without adequate protection in place for their pets.

Dropdown Menu