SASH patient Cozy and her mum, Anne-Marie, were interviewed by Channel 10 about their experience surviving a potentially deadly condition caused by the paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus). Also featured was SASH Northern Beaches Emergency Veterinarian & Operations Manager Dr. Tim Hopkins, BVSc(Hons I), MSc, who shared his expert advice on recognizing early signs such as changes in behavior or voice.
To learn more about ticks, please read our educational blog here
Dr Timothy Hopkins graduated from the University of Sydney in 2007 with First Class Honours, and completed his internship at SASH in 2008. Tim moved to the UK where he worked for two years as a general practice and emergency veterinarian in Central and Southwest London.In 2011, he completed his Master of Science (Wild Animal Health) at the Royal Veterinary College. From 2012 to 2015 Tim was a wildlife veterinarian at the Institute of Zoology – the research arm of the Zoological Society of London – studying diseases that threaten or cause wildlife population declines. In 2016 Tim returned to Australia, working in emergency hospitals in Adelaide, and the RSPCA in Canberra.
Tim has a very affectionate rescue greyhound named Betsy who loves scritches and sleeping.
Transcript:
0:00 And it’s not the only summer warning, as summer heats up. The warm weather is ideal for ticks accelerating their life cycles.
0:08 And that’s seeing animal hospitals inundated with very ill cats and dogs. For Anne-Marie, her dogs are her life. Isn’t he beautiful?
0:19 So when seven-year-old Cozy wasn’t acting like his usual self, she knew something was wrong. He had a bit of a sleep, and when he got up, his back legs were not functioning properly.
0:29 The Hungarian pulley was rushed to the vet. It was there doctors found a tick hiding in his fur. A discovery that’s becoming increasingly common.
0:39 They’re actually much worse this year, they’re more severe, and they’re taking longer to treat and requiring more intensive treatment. While prevention is key, nothing is guaranteed.
0:49 That’s why owners are being urged to keep a close eye on their pets. Weakness in the way that they’re walking, a sudden change in their voice, in their bark or their meow.
0:59 Any kind of difficulty breathing or changes to their breathing pattern, but also vomiting and retching. The dogs are a part of our lives, a part of our family, and you just don’t ever want to see them, you know, unwell or potentially facing a life and death problem.
1:15 With the forecast expected to be above zero average this summer, ticks aren’t the only danger pet owners should be worried about, with temperatures set to
