BY ANNIE HOLLER
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

DINGESS, W.Va. — As warmer weather settles across the Tug Valley region, veterinarians are warning pet owners about a sharp rise in cases of tick paralysis. This potentially fatal neurological condition can leave dogs unable to walk within days.

The concern became personal for the Walker family of Dingess, West Virginia, after their 3-year-old French bulldog, Boo-Boo, suddenly lost the use of her hind legs late last month.

What first appeared to be a possible spinal injury quickly escalated into a frightening medical emergency.

“There are two types of dogs more likely to have spinal issues than most other breeds, French Bulldogs and Dachshunds, and we have one of each,” Brandon Walker said. “By Wednesday evening, Boo-Boo was unable to move her back legs at all. It scared us to death.”

Walker said he initially feared the dog had suffered a spinal problem common in French bulldogs. But after taking Boo-Boo to Central Appalachian Veterinary Clinic in South Williamson, veterinarians asked whether the family had recently removed any ticks from the dog.

Walker said he had found two ticks attached to Boo-Boo’s stomach area days earlier.

The dog was diagnosed with tick paralysis and prescribed antibiotics and steroids. Within 24 hours, the family said the treatment began improving her condition.

Although Boo-Boo still occasionally shows weakness in her hind legs, Walker said she has largely returned to her energetic self.

Tick paralysis is caused not by infection, but by a neurotoxin released in the saliva of certain feeding female ticks, according to veterinarians. The condition can progress rapidly, beginning with weakness in the hind legs before advancing to total paralysis and, in severe cases, respiratory failure.

Veterinarians said symptoms typically appear five to nine days after a tick attaches to the animal.

Early warning signs can include weakness, wobbling, vomiting, regurgitation and changes in a dog’s bark or voice. Advanced stages may involve facial paralysis, difficulty swallowing and breathing problems that can become fatal if untreated.

Immediate tick removal is considered critical. Most animals recover within 24 to 72 hours once the tick is removed and treatment begins.

The ticks most commonly associated with the condition are the American dog tick and the Rocky Mountain wood tick.

Veterinarians emphasized that tick paralysis differs from Lyme disease, which is caused by bacterial infection and requires different diagnosis and treatment.

According to staff at the South Williamson clinic, Boo-Boo was one of 14 confirmed tick paralysis cases treated there during April — a number they described as unusually high for spring.

Veterinary clinics in Pikeville, Prestonsburg, Ashland and Williamson, West Virginia, also reported increases in diagnosed cases, including among cats.

“Any pet that spends time outdoors, even if it’s just taking them for a walk or letting them out to use the bathroom, needs to be checked every day,” a receptionist at Dr. Joey Collins Veterinary Office said. “The quicker you remove the tick, the less chance your pet has of developing issues.”

The receptionist warned that once symptoms such as hind-leg weakness begin, animals should receive veterinary attention immediately.

“The failure to seek treatment could very well lead to death,” she said.

Walker said the experience convinced him to speak publicly to warn other pet owners.

“It’s scary to think that a tick can cause such serious issues in a very short period of time,” Walker said. “That’s why I feel that it’s important to share our dog’s story and make other pet owners aware of what’s going on.”

Veterinarians recommend thoroughly checking pets after time outdoors and using prescription flea and tick preventatives. However, they caution that no treatment is completely foolproof.

To safely remove a tick, veterinarians advise using fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick close to the skin and pull upward with steady pressure. Pet owners should avoid twisting or crushing the tick and should disinfect the area afterward.

Veterinarians also warned against using petroleum jelly, alcohol or other substances intended to force the tick to detach, saying those methods can increase the risk of toxin release or infection.