Sunshine Coast pet owner Lizi Hofer has paid the ultimate price after doubting her vet's advice.
Ms Hofer's beloved Maltese had just given birth to five puppies when she realised the dog's tick treatment had expired.
She rang her vet and was told the treatment was safe for the puppies and lactating mum, Poppy.
"I decided myself that I didn't want to put poison on her while she was feeding the babies," Ms Hofer said.
"I thought, look, I'll just leave it a few weeks [until] the babies are a bit stronger."
Ms Hofer said Poppy was only going outside briefly on mowed grass at the family's property at Mapleton, in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
"I never thought for one minute that just going outside to the toilet and back, which was all she was doing, that she would get a tick."
But she did.
"She paralysed from the waist down in the middle of the night."
Ms Hofer said she raced Poppy to the vet, who told her the dog was in critical condition.
"She fought like a little trooper, and then she just passed away and left these little babies, which was just tragic.
"I'll never forget that and I'll never make that mistake again."
She said the puppies were doing OK.
"They were actually just starting to have solids, so we just had to wean them very quickly."
Ms Hofer said Poppy's death had been a heartbreaking lesson.
"I guess the moral of the story is listen to your vet, because they know.
"Don't let it lapse one day, not even one day ... ticks are so bad at the moment, you just can't take the risk.
"If you don't put that treatment on, you will lose your animal and be heartbroken like I am."
What is tick paralysis?
Paralysis ticks are found along the east coast of Australia, from Queensland's far north down to New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.
Tick paralysis is caused by a neurotoxin injected by the tick through its saliva while feeding on a host.
The toxin attacks the nervous system and can cause paralysis in humans and animals, which can be deadly.
While rarely fatal in humans, it is important to understand the risks and signs of tick paralysis and seek urgent treatment if affected.
In humans, early symptoms of tick paralysis can include rashes, headache, fever, flu-like symptoms, sore glands, unsteady gait, intolerance to bright light, limb weakness and facial paralysis.
The illness usually resolves after removing the tick, although health experts advise seeking medical attention if you are allergic to ticks, unable to remove the tick properly, or if there are any serious symptoms.
If a pet has been bitten by a tick, it is strongly recommended that the animal is inspected by a vet — even if the tick has been removed — as the toxin can continue to poison the animal and they may require timely treatment.
Vet warns of 'heavy load of ticks'
Renee O'Duhring from Forest Glen veterinary clinic The Natural Vets said there seemed to be an increase in tick paralysis cases in animals this season.
"I think the wet weather that we've had often brings a heavy load of ticks out," she said.
She said treatment for affected pets was often intensive.
"Often the animal can't blink, so they need their eyes lubricated; they can't wee, so they need their bladder expressed.
"They can't eat or drink because their throats are not working properly, so we need to monitor their hydration," Dr O'Duhring said.
Typically, tick season runs from about August to April, but Dr O'Duhring warns it pays to be cautious even in the cooler months.
"I've seen dogs with tick paralysis from the hinterland areas right in the middle of winter, so it's definitely something that in this region we need to be aware of year-round."
Dr O'Duhring said her clinic recommended a multi-barrier approach to tick prevention.
"Just relying on a chemical preventative may not necessarily be enough," she said.
She said dogs, for instance, that were given a chewable preventative could vomit the tablet back up without owners realising, making it difficult to tell whether or not they had received a full dose.
The clinic also recommended clipping long fur, especially in the warmer months and thoroughly searching pets every day.
"They do need to be attached for a minimum of three days before the tick paralysis symptoms will set in, so the daily checks can be a really effective measure to try and keep the ticks off your pet," Dr O'Duhring said.
"Make it a part of your routine that you're keeping on top of your tick prevention, whatever measures you're using."
