Snake Bite and Tick Paralysis

Australia is home to some of the world’s most venomous snakes, and snake bites are a serious risk for pets, particularly dogs. The most dangerous species pets encounter include:

• Eastern Brown Snake — responsible for the most pet deaths. Found throughout eastern Australia, including suburban gardens and parks
• Tiger Snake — common in southern and eastern Australia, particularly near water
• Red-Bellied Black Snake — found along the eastern coast. Less aggressive than brown snakes but still dangerous
• Mulga (King Brown) Snake — found across much of mainland Australia, particularly in drier regions

Snake bites are most common in spring and summer when snakes are active. Dogs are most commonly bitten on the face or legs when they investigate or try to play with a snake. Cats are more often bitten on the front legs.

You may not see the bite happen or find a bite wound — snake fangs leave tiny marks that are often hidden by fur.

Symptoms can appear within minutes or take several hours depending on the snake species, the amount of venom injected, and the size of your pet. Watch for:

Early Signs

• Sudden weakness, especially in the hind legs — your pet may stagger or collapse
• Dilated pupils that do not respond to light
• Trembling or shaking
• Vomiting
• Drooling

Progressing Signs

• Collapse and inability to stand
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Rapid or shallow breathing
• Blood in urine (especially with brown snake envenomation)
• Paralysis — starting from the hind legs and moving forward

What to Do

Go to your vet or emergency animal hospital immediately. Keep your pet as still and calm as possible — movement increases venom circulation. Carry them to the car if possible. Do NOT try to identify or catch the snake, apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, or suck out venom. The vet can use a snake detection kit on a urine or blood sample to identify the type of venom and administer the correct antivenom.

The paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus) is found along the eastern coast of Australia, from Far North Queensland to northern Victoria. It is one of the most dangerous parasites for Australian pets.

Paralysis ticks inject a toxin as they feed that causes progressive paralysis, starting from the hind legs and moving forward. Without treatment, tick paralysis can be fatal.

Signs of Tick Paralysis

Symptoms usually appear 3 to 5 days after the tick attaches, and may include:

• Change in bark or meow (voice becomes hoarse or weak)
• Weakness in the hind legs — wobbly, uncoordinated gait
• Loss of appetite or difficulty swallowing
• Excessive salivation or regurgitation
• Laboured breathing — the chest muscles become affected
• Complete paralysis and collapse

What to Do

If you find a tick or notice any of these symptoms, go to your vet immediately. If you can see the tick, remove it using fine-pointed tweezers or a tick removal tool — grasp as close to the skin as possible and pull straight out with steady, even pressure. Do not squeeze, twist, or apply chemicals to the tick. Bring the tick to the vet if you can (in a sealed container) for identification.

Even after the tick is removed, symptoms can continue to worsen for 24 to 48 hours because the toxin is already in the system. Your pet needs veterinary treatment with tick antiserum.