Tick Season and Oodles: How to Spot a Tick and What to Do If You Find One

There is a lot to love about the warmer months: longer walks, outdoor adventures and more time spent sniffing absolutely everything. Unfortunately, warmer weather can also mean more ticks. If you’ve ever found a tick on your oodle, you understand that it can feel really scary but knowing what to do, can help you feel less panicked.

Ticks are a serious concern for Australian dog owners, particularly along the east coast. For Oodle pawrents, the challenge is finding the little pests beneath all those curls. A thick oodle coat makes a fabulous hiding place for a tick, which is why regular checks are so important. 

Here is how to check your Oodle for ticks, the warning signs to watch for and exactly what to do if you find one.

When Is Tick Season in Australia?

Ticks tend to be more active during warmer, humid weather, with spring and summer generally considered the highest-risk months.

However, ticks do not necessarily look at the calendar and decide to take winter off. In warmer parts of Australia, including Brisbane and coastal Queensland, they can be active throughout the year.

Your Oodle can pick up a tick while exploring long grass, gardens, bushland, dog parks or areas visited by wildlife. They do not need to go hiking through the wilderness to find one. Sometimes an innocent backyard sniff or neighbourhood walk is all it takes.

This is why many vets recommend year-round tick prevention rather than waiting until “tick season” officially arrives.

What Types of Ticks Can Dogs Get in Australia?

Australia is home to several types of ticks, but there are three that dog owners are most likely to hear about.

Paralysis ticks

The paralysis tick is the one that causes the greatest concern. It produces a toxin that affects a dog’s nervous system and can lead to weakness, breathing difficulties, paralysis and death if treatment is delayed.

Paralysis ticks are most commonly found along Australia’s east coast. They can be difficult to identify because their appearance changes as they feed, often becoming larger and greyish or bluish in colour.

Bush ticks

Bush ticks are found in many parts of Australia, particularly in warm and humid areas. They can cause irritation where they attach and may lead to anaemia when a dog has a heavy infestation.

Although they do not usually cause tick paralysis, they still need to be removed and taken seriously.

Brown dog ticks

Brown dog ticks are widespread and can survive in kennels, homes and other sheltered areas. They may cause skin irritation, itching and anaemia and can also carry diseases that affect dogs.

Unless you are a tick expert, and most of us are very happy not to be, it can be difficult to tell one type from another. Treat any tick as potentially dangerous and ask your vet to identify it.

Why Ticks Are Harder to Find on Oodles

Oodles have many wonderful qualities, but an easy-to-search coat is rarely one of them.

Their curly, wavy or fleece-like fur can completely hide a tick. You may feel one before you see it. It might feel like a small, firm lump, scab, skin tag or piece of dried dirt attached to the skin.

Mats make the search even trickier, so keeping your Oodle’s coat brushed and well maintained is not just about looking fabulous. It can also make it easier to spot unwanted passengers.

How to Check Your Oodle for Ticks

During high-risk periods, give your Oodle a thorough tick check every day, especially after walks or outdoor adventures.

Use your fingertips to slowly “finger walk” through the coat at skin level. Running your hand over the top of the fur is not enough, you need to get beneath the fluff.

Start at the nose and work backwards, checking:

• Around the lips, gums and inside the mouth

• Around the eyes and face

• Inside, behind and underneath the ears

• Under the collar

• Around the neck, throat and chest

• Under the front legs

• Between the toes and around the paw pads

• Across the back, stomach and groin

• Down every leg

• Around and underneath the tail

Pay extra attention to the head, neck and front half of the body, but do not skip anywhere. Ticks are not known for respecting designated hiding zones and veterinary research shows they are more popular on the front half of your dog.

One great tip is to feel around when you are curled up with them on the lounge together.

Signs of Tick Paralysis in Dogs

Early symptoms can be surprisingly subtle. Your Oodle might simply seem quieter than usual or not quite themselves.

Signs to watch for include:

• Wobbliness or weakness, particularly in the back legs

• Difficulty standing or walking

• A change in the sound of their bark

• Coughing, gagging, retching or vomiting

• Excessive drooling

• Loss of appetite

• Unusual tiredness

• Rapid, noisy or difficult breathing

• Trouble swallowing

• Collapse or paralysis

If your dog is struggling to breathe, collapsing or unable to walk normally, go straight to an emergency vet. Do not wait to see if they improve.

What Should You Do If You Find a Tick?

A tick should be removed as soon as possible because an attached paralysis tick can continue releasing toxin.

Use a purpose-made tick-removal tool and follow its instructions. If you do not have one, grip the tick as close to your dog’s skin as possible with fine-tipped tweezers and pull it out firmly.

If you are not confident, cannot get hold of the tick or your Oodle is too distressed to stay still, go directly to your vet so they can remove it. The important thing is not to leave the tick attached while waiting for a convenient appointment.

Do not burn it or cover it with petroleum jelly, alcohol, methylated spirits or other substances.

Once removed, place the tick in a sealed container or zip-lock bag and take it with you. Your vet may be able to identify it.

Then check your Oodle’s entire body again. Finding one tick does not guarantee there are not others hiding beneath the curls.

Contact your vet promptly for advice, even if your Oodle appears well. Signs of paralysis can appear or worsen after the tick has been removed because toxin may already be circulating in the body.

If your dog is weak, gagging, vomiting or having difficulty swallowing, keep them calm and do not offer food or water unless your vet tells you to. Take them straight to a veterinary clinic.

How Is Tick Paralysis Treated?

There is no safe home treatment for tick paralysis. Affected dogs need veterinary care.

Depending on the severity, treatment may include tick antiserum, oxygen, intravenous fluids, medication, sedation and intensive nursing. The veterinary team may also clip your dog’s coat and conduct several full-body searches to make sure no other ticks are hiding.

Dogs with severe breathing problems or complications such as aspiration pneumonia may require intensive care and breathing support.

The earlier treatment begins, the better the chance of recovery.

Prevention Is Better Than a Tick Emergency

There are several tick-prevention options available, including oral chews, topical treatments and collars. Ask your vet which option is best for your Oodle’s age, weight, health and lifestyle.

Make sure the product protects against paralysis ticks, use the correct dose and follow the recommended schedule. A phone reminder can help prevent doses from becoming accidentally overdue.

No product offers a reason to stop checking. Combining reliable prevention with daily hands-on searches gives your Oodle the best protection.

Think of it as a daily cuddle with a purpose. Your Oodle gets extra attention, and you get the reassurance that nothing suspicious is hiding beneath those curls.

This article provides general information and does not replace veterinary advice. If you find a tick or notice possible symptoms of tick paralysis, contact your vet immediately.