What to Do If You Find a Tick on Your Dog in Australia

A practical emergency guide to tick removal, paralysis tick symptoms and when to seek veterinary care.

Finding a tick on your dog can be frightening, especially if you live in Sydney, coastal New South Wales or another part of Australia's east coast where paralysis ticks are a serious concern.

The most important thing to know is that removing a tick does not necessarily mean your dog is safe.

Australian paralysis ticks (Ixodes holocyclus) can release toxins that affect a dog's nervous system, muscles and breathing. Symptoms may continue to develop even after the tick has been removed.

This guide explains what to do immediately, what warning signs to watch for and how to reduce the risk of serious complications.

> Emergency advice: If your dog is weak, unsteady, vomiting, gagging, having difficulty swallowing or breathing abnormally, contact an emergency veterinarian immediately. Keep your dog quiet and avoid unnecessary movement. Do not delay treatment while searching for more ticks.

1. Check Your Dog for Emergency Warning Signs

Before anything else, assess your dog's condition.

Signs of paralysis tick poisoning may include:

Wobbly walking or weakness, particularly in the back legs
Difficulty standing or walking
A change in barking or voice
Vomiting, coughing, gagging or retching
Excessive drooling or difficulty swallowing
Rapid, noisy or laboured breathing
Collapse or severe weakness

Symptoms can be subtle initially and may progress to life-threatening breathing difficulties.

If any of these signs are present, seek emergency veterinary care immediately — even if you cannot find a tick.

2. Remove the Tick Promptly and Safely

Australian veterinary guidance recommends promptly removing ticks from dogs.

If you can do so safely without delaying veterinary treatment:

Keep your dog as calm and still as possible.
Wear gloves if available.
Use a purpose-designed tick removal tool or suitable fine-tipped tweezers.
Position the tool close to the skin, avoiding pressure on the tick's swollen body.
Follow the removal tool's instructions and avoid crushing the tick.
Place the removed tick in a secure container for possible identification by your veterinarian.

Different removal tools use different techniques, so follow the instructions for the tool you are using.

Avoid applying oil, petroleum jelly, heat or household chemicals to an attached tick.

If you cannot remove the tick safely, contact your veterinarian immediately rather than repeatedly manipulating it.

Important distinction: Advice about removing ticks from humans can differ because of tick allergy and anaphylaxis risks. This article concerns veterinary care for dogs.

3. Contact Your Veterinarian — Even If Your Dog Looks Normal

Finding a tick does not automatically mean your dog has developed tick paralysis.

However, in paralysis tick regions, it is important to contact your veterinarian promptly for advice.

Your vet may recommend an examination to identify the tick, check for subtle neurological changes and determine whether further observation or treatment is required.

If your dog has symptoms, do not wait for a routine appointment.

Contact an emergency veterinary hospital.

Even when a dog appears well, removing the tick does not eliminate the possibility of symptoms developing later.

4. Keep Your Dog Quiet and Avoid Food or Water If Paralysis Is Suspected

While arranging emergency veterinary care:

Keep your dog calm. Avoid walks, running, excitement and unnecessary handling. Carry your dog where practical.

Maintain a comfortable temperature. Avoid overheating or chilling.

Do not give food, water or oral medication if tick paralysis is suspected. Weakness affecting swallowing can increase the risk of food or liquid entering the airways, potentially causing aspiration pneumonia.

Call the veterinary hospital before arrival if possible. Explain the symptoms and tell them whether you have found or removed a tick.

Do not attempt to treat suspected paralysis tick poisoning at home.

5. Check for More Ticks

Dogs can have more than one attached tick.

If your dog is stable and doing so will not delay veterinary care, perform a quick examination.

Pay particular attention to:

The face, lips, ears and around the eyes
The neck, including underneath the collar
The chest and armpits
Between the toes
The groin and belly
Around the tail and skin folds

Use your fingertips to feel carefully through the coat for small lumps.

A tick may be tiny or difficult to see, particularly in dogs with thick or long fur.

If your dog is unwell, do not postpone emergency transport to complete a thorough search. Your veterinary team can examine your dog for additional ticks.

6. Why Can Dogs Get Worse After a Tick Is Removed?

Paralysis tick toxin interferes with communication between nerves and muscles.

Removing the tick stops further toxin being delivered, but toxin already absorbed can continue to affect the dog.

As a result, symptoms may develop or worsen after removal.

This is why a dog that can still walk when first examined may later require hospitalisation and intensive care.

Depending on severity, veterinary treatment may include tick antiserum, oxygen support, intravenous fluids, nursing care and respiratory support.

Recovery can take time, particularly after severe poisoning.

7. Mr Beans' Experience: Why Early Symptoms Matter

In October 2026, our dog Mr Beans experienced severe paralysis tick poisoning.

His earliest noticeable signs included unusual weakness in his hind legs and an abnormal walking pattern. We subsequently discovered a tick near his mouth.

We took him to an emergency veterinary hospital.

At first, he could still walk.

Unfortunately, his condition deteriorated. He required oxygen support, transfer to a specialist intensive care unit and mechanical ventilation.

Mr Beans survived and returned home on 30 October, but his recovery was gradual and his combined veterinary expenses exceeded A$25,000.

Our experience is a reminder that the apparent mildness of early symptoms does not reliably predict how serious tick paralysis may become.

It is a personal account, not an indication that every tick bite will follow the same course.

8. How to Reduce Your Dog's Risk

Paralysis ticks can be encountered in bushland, coastal vegetation, gardens and other outdoor environments.

Prevention should involve more than one measure.

Use an appropriate tick prevention product. Ask your veterinarian which product and dosing schedule suit your dog's weight, age, health and lifestyle.

Perform daily tick checks. Check your dog carefully after outdoor activities, particularly in tick-prone areas.

Maintain year-round awareness. In Sydney and surrounding regions, paralysis ticks may be active outside the traditional spring and summer peak.

Know the early symptoms. Recognising changes in movement, voice, swallowing or breathing can help you act sooner.

No preventative product provides an absolute guarantee that a dog will never encounter a tick.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I take my dog to the vet after finding a tick?

Contact your veterinarian promptly, even if your dog appears normal. If your dog has weakness, vomiting, voice changes, swallowing problems or breathing difficulties, seek emergency veterinary care immediately.

Can my dog develop tick paralysis after the tick is removed?

Yes. Symptoms may develop or worsen after removal because toxin already absorbed can continue to affect the nervous system.

How long should I monitor my dog after removing a tick?

Your veterinarian can advise on an appropriate observation period. Clinical signs may develop over the following 24–48 hours, so close monitoring and reduced activity may be recommended. Any concerning symptoms require immediate veterinary assessment.

Should I give my dog food or water?

If tick paralysis is suspected, do not offer food, water or anything by mouth while arranging emergency care unless your veterinarian specifically advises otherwise. Swallowing may be impaired.

Can dogs still get ticks while using tick prevention?

Yes. Some preventative products kill ticks after they attach. Finding an attached tick does not necessarily mean the product has failed, but veterinary advice and regular tick checks remain important.

Are paralysis ticks only a summer problem?

No. Although risk often increases during warmer months, paralysis ticks can be active throughout the year in parts of coastal eastern Australia, including Sydney.

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Final Thoughts

Finding a tick on your dog does not always mean a medical emergency has developed, but suspected paralysis tick exposure deserves prompt attention.

Remember the essentials:

Remove the tick safely, keep your dog calm, contact your veterinarian and never ignore changes in walking, swallowing, voice or breathing.

Early recognition and veterinary treatment can make a critical difference.

At PawsAround, we share practical information to help Australian dog owners enjoy outdoor adventures while understanding the risks that come with them.