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Hello everybody it is Tanya Williams here chief porson at 3 sport dogs with another episode of the positively sp podcast I'm looking to took ticks today. It's one of those things that so many of us are affected by over the lifetime of our beloved pooches. And I've got just the man to talk to I'm talking to Evan Shaw who is the founder of female. Perfect name for the topic that we're going to be talking about. Hey Evan how are you good? Thank you. Can you start by just telling people a bit about yourself and the business that you have.
00:28.63
Evan
Ah, very good. Thanks yourself. Oh wonderful.
00:34.38
Evan
Yeah, certainly well my name's Dr Evan Shaw so I've founded a company calledleama. so basically I so I saw within my work as a veterinarian a lot of people you know having to deal with parasites and especially in Australia Paralysis Tick is
00:51.12
tanyawilliams
Um.
00:53.18
Evan
So dangerous as all of your listeners are probably well aware of ah and I was you know basically looking at the numbers and seeing about 40000 dogs every year die from paralysis tech and you got about 150000 dying from ah selected parasites.
01:03.15
tanyawilliams
Um, wow.
01:09.23
Evan
It is the biggest killer of just about every australian animal owned pet in Australia. So yeah, it's just something that I really wanted to change. Um, so yeah I basically I've become like the parasite guy in the veterinary field because it's a little bit neglected in our world.
01:19.98
tanyawilliams
I Love it. Yes.
01:27.10
Evan
Um, it's seen as a bit of a you know? Well, That's what the receptionist does I look after myoccardiiopathies and stuff and I kind of sat there and went 70% of everything to do with this is parasite related. Why does everybody treat this like the redheaded stepchild of the industry. Ah. So yeah, it's one of those things I Just saw a huge need for it and I really like parasites. Ah so yeah, it's It's been.. It's been a bit of a fun time.
01:54.90
tanyawilliams
So how did you get started then specifically going. Well what can I do? Um, that's specifically rated I related to to tick to ticks because as you said it was a problem you identify there was a problem like why did you go? Okay, what do we do about it.
02:11.91
Evan
Well basically because it was just death really? um, there's huge amounts of money and time spent on all of these different you know on oncology dermatology and behavior and all these sorts of things where literally 70% of vet visits.
02:13.96
tanyawilliams
Um, yeah.
02:24.24
tanyawilliams
Um, here.
02:29.52
Evan
Is parasite and vaccine related. So I'm all about preventing. Um my brother's also a pediatric Surge Emergency Surgeon So he's all about prevention of accidents and stuff as well. So yeah, it was just one of those things that really came to me of.
02:31.44
tanyawilliams
It.
02:40.17
tanyawilliams
Um, yeah.
02:46.21
Evan
Tick Paralysis can cost you up to you know 15 20 $30000 to fix in your dog. It's a $20 tab ah chew each month It's
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really, really, really easy to combat. Um, it's also. Exceedingly complicated in Australia because we have way more parasites than any other country. Yeah, we pretty much have everything that can kill you and we're pretty much the only country in the world that has xxode's holocylas or the paralysis tick and there are a couple of very.
03:02.69
tanyawilliams
Oh we seem to have a you don't we.
03:14.99
tanyawilliams
Are all of them.
03:20.36
Evan
Light different strains of them in the us in Texas and places like that. But they're nowhere near as dangerous as the australian one.
03:25.89
tanyawilliams
There you go I would have had no idea I assumed that ticks were all over the place all over the world.
03:31.32
Evan
Yeah, well they are but it's just that one very specific species which is Australian Yeah, and they absolutely love. Basically it's because we have so many marsupials ticks res Paralysis tick.
03:34.33
tanyawilliams
The birthday. Yeah.
03:43.49
tanyawilliams
Um, my.
03:47.23
Evan
Absolutely love the Australian marsupials and Australian marsupials are immune to them, especially the bandicoot. Ah so that's basically where they harbor so you kind of can't get rid of them because they're endemic to the country and in our Australian animal population. Definitely.
03:49.92
tanyawilliams
Yeah. Yeah, but we can do something to prevent our dogs getting so that's the important thing. So let's talk about the different types of ticks because we will yeah, we always hear about paralysis ticks and they're they're obviously the deadly ones but there's Bush ticks and Brown ticks and. All sorts of other things. Let's sort of identify the different types of ticks that um people in a normal sort of residential area which is where I am and a lot of people you know, but that have oodles and small dogs are what sort of tick can they expect to see or hopefully we don't want us.
04:24.27
Evan
Yeah.
04:29.13
tanyawilliams
See them right? But what sort of ticks are the most sort of common ticks in those sorts of areas.
04:34.56
Evan
Ah, okay, well in Australia we actually have like 70 different species and they kind of yeah they kind of fall into 2 categories of hard ticks and soft ticks. So there's a lot more hard ticks.
04:35.84
tanyawilliams
Wow.
04:42.40
tanyawilliams
Okay.
04:48.19
Evan
In Australia than the soft ticks and the hard ticcks are generally the ones that cause the damage. Um, so your your family exodi a which is all of your paralysis tick and lots of lots of the other bad ones. Um, they're kind of all in that group of that group. There's 4 major types in Australia. And we basically have the paralysis tick which is East Coast of Australia. Basically if you live on the eastern side of the great dividing range. There is paralysis tick so many people will sit there and tell you oh not in my area. Yes in your area. It's in Tasmania.
05:16.18
tanyawilliams
Does a yeah. Yeah, yeah.
05:25.91
Evan
It's all the way around the southern tip of Australia and
it's all the way over to geelong now. The maps that are online are very very very incorrect. They're very old so that's the big dangerous one. Obviously the paralysis tick. We also have ah the Bush tick the cattle tick and the brown dog tick rounding out.
05:28.60
tanyawilliams
Okay, here.
05:36.43
tanyawilliams
Um, yeah.
05:45.72
Evan
The top four baddies paralysis tick being all the way at the top. Ah Bush Tick really ah not a huge problem in Australia. Um, they're kind of like they're all over the East Coast and the west coast as well. The cattle tick is far more northern Australia and that is a huge problem for the cattle industry.
05:46.55
tanyawilliams
Um, yep.
06:04.45
tanyawilliams
Um, we.
06:05.48
Evan
They don't really affect dogs or people so much. They're just kind of annoying. Um, any of the diseases that they carry are primarily stuck aroundund you know, pigs and cattle that El Paso all the anaplasmosis and things like that then we have the fun one which is.
06:18.86
tanyawilliams
Um, does yeah.
06:24.88
Evan
Brown dog tick which is basically all over Australia um, so the brown dog tick will actually carry quite a few what we call zoonotic diseases where they will if they bite a human. They'll actually pass a disease on to the human and they'll also pass diseases on to your pets as well.
06:40.95
tanyawilliams
Are.
06:44.40
Evan
Um, so yeah, they're basically the big 4 um There's a few diseases that are kind of popped their head up um with the brown dog and the Bush ticks. Ah that are kind of they're just starting to encroach in Australia especially in the northern. Areas which can have effect on humans and a lot of effect on pets. Um, but yeah, they kind of round out the big 4.
07:07.50
tanyawilliams
Well, okay, so how do we identify which what type we have so I think typically paralysis ticks are right really dark, small tiny looking like they're almost black I think aren't they but then a Bush ticker or obviously brown tick I know I think years ago we had a. Think it was a bush tick like they look almost sort of flat and oval shaped one of my dogs had 1 right between her eyes and then we know it's on a paralysis tick and and it would have been one of the other types but they all look quite different right? yeah.
07:29.41
Evan
Um.
07:40.96
Evan
Yes, and no, um so a lot of the time. Um the absolute best way to tell a tick is with a microscope or a magnifying glass and you look at their feet color unfortunately is not.
07:54.43
tanyawilliams
Know Ah I was assuming that these little dark tiny ones were paralysis ticks but that doesn't invest it. Well.
07:57.69
Evan
Ah, something like yeah and it also depends on what what stage the lifecycle they're at as well. So you know are they are they larval are they nymph are they adult they'll change color and also where they are in the country. They'll also change color. Um.
08:05.19
tanyawilliams
Are.
08:15.22
tanyawilliams
Um, okay.
08:17.30
Evan
So the biggest thing we use as veterinarians
is their feet Paralysis Tick have very specific feet. They're brown. They're all up around their face and basically we can flip them over and go a lot of the time they are pale with a gray line but that's still not.
08:29.20
tanyawilliams
Um.
08:33.60
Evan
A ah definitive like that's what that is you got to look at the feet in the mouth.
08:35.13
tanyawilliams
Are they typically smaller than other types of ticks though.
08:41.87
Evan
Again, it depends like a fully laden paralysis tick can be three centimeters large where a fully laden bush tech can be 1 just depends on their size. Um yeah, their parents like all of those sorts of things.
08:47.73
tanyawilliams
Um, what are.
08:53.66
tanyawilliams
Well okay, you just blow my mind I never thought that a tick could get that big I think I suppose I've only ever seen them when they're very small to think that they can be.
09:03.67
Evan
Yeah, that's the joy of it is um with a lot of the ah prevention that we use now they don't have time to stay on so a lot of people think ticks are actually quite small. But if you do like a lot of the wildlife work that I do.
09:10.49
tanyawilliams
Right? I account.
09:18.97
Evan
You'll go out and you'll get one of these you know Bandicoos or so or a wallaby or something like that and they will have gigantic ticks in their ears and they're really they can get really big.
09:20.63
tanyawilliams
Is.
09:29.40
tanyawilliams
Um, ah, ah like at this.
09:32.47
Evan
Yeah, yeah, and they will be they will be on mass. There's been times when I literally go on like I cannot see this wallaby's head for the ticks. Yes, they can get very bad.
09:38.59
tanyawilliams
Oh my God that is insane. Okay, so and the good news is that they can't hurt the wallabies all right.
09:52.34
Evan
Ah, well yeah, taking what they can um like obviously cause discomfort anything that breaks the skin. That's a fantastic way for Bacteria or anything infectious to get in and it's also drawing a lot of blood and you get that many of a burden.
09:58.61
tanyawilliams
For echo.
10:06.81
Evan
They actually go and you basically see them. They're like all pale Grey Gus and stuff because they just don't have the red blood cells.
10:11.44
tanyawilliams
Yeah, oh God Yeah I didn't think of that. Okay, because it's obviously sucking out the blood. Um, Okay, so there's lots of different options right? to treat Now my dogs are on brevecto I know that there's all sorts of. Collars and creams and tablets and stuff and there's just so many on the market and people often asking? Oh What should I give them and it's just like well I can just tell you what I do with my dogs I hope I'm doing the right thing they get their treatments every three months like all that sort of stuff where should people start because there is so much stuff on the Market. Ah.
10:29.32
Evan
Yes.
10:43.89
tanyawilliams
You know is one sort of treatment better than the other are different brands and I like can imagine that these are better brands and others and so forth. It's It's pretty overwhelming So as a vet. What would you suggest to people.
10:54.14
Evan
Yes, ah so my general like my ah my whole thing about it is and the reason why I started the company I don't really want to sit here and plug the company so much. But there's about 113 products in Australia.
11:09.83
tanyawilliams
Um, oh.
11:10.32
Evan
Um, for ah for prevention every single one of them pretty much does different things and controls different ah parasites. There is no silver bullet in Australia because we have so many parasites there is no single product that covers everything.
11:15.41
tanyawilliams
Okay, here.
11:29.25
Evan
You need to have a combination of products so and they've got to be given at different times. Um, so that's one of the reasons why I started the thing was because I was like no stop thinking about it. My whole thing is when the blue thing arrives give it to your dog. We've taken care of everything. Um.
11:31.40
tanyawilliams
Um, right? hi um.
11:41.80
tanyawilliams
And like yeah.
11:47.17
Evan
Just yeah and and to take out all of that complexity and stuff. Um, so yeah, it it is a bit of a minefield. Um I'm sure all of your listeners have have seen you know when you Google Comparison charts.
11:48.30
tanyawilliams
Um, so you're the evening I just got fun treatment. Yeah.
12:00.58
tanyawilliams
Ah.
12:02.15
Evan
Um, and they've got all the different brands and all the green ticks and the red crosses and yeah, they all do different stuff. Um, so yeah, basically I say make sure you look after the big 3 which is if you live on the East Coast that's paralysis tick and that's the biggest one in Australia.
12:14.44
tanyawilliams
Um, like quiet. Yeah yeah, and make sure they color for.
12:21.43
Evan
Um, for what it actually means like yeah for things that will actually kill your dog. Um, second for me is hookworm especially for young dogs hookworm is becoming quite bad in Australia um, and a lot of the treatments are showing signs of resistance. So.
12:31.72
tanyawilliams
Is it.
12:41.26
Evan
And then number 3 is everyone's um, everyone's favorite. You know is fleas. But for me, it's not that it's actually heartworm and fleas just make your dog or cat itchy which is a bit of annoying but probably not going to kill your dog cat at all I've never seen it. Um.
12:46.30
tanyawilliams
Um, yeah, yeah, yeah, so what you say is it great.
13:00.55
Evan
So yeah, they're my big 3 but tick's definitely number 1
13:02.94
tanyawilliams
Yeah, okay so the tick treatment should cover off on those 3 things and if it doesn't you need? ah you need to be looking at multiple solutions.
13:08.17
Evan
Yes, ah yes, so depending on again, what product you have. There's just so many out there. So with you like you said your um, he's on bri your dogs on Bravecta. Yes.
13:19.55
tanyawilliams
Um, mother of the but yeah.
13:22.73
Evan
Ah, yeah, so I always there and go which one this yet do not feel bad about this? yeah and and and this
is generally what a lot of people will go Oh I give him a tablet or I give it a chew and even then I go okay which one.
13:25.77
tanyawilliams
Ah, good question 1 um tabloids yeah.
13:37.23
tanyawilliams
Yeah, all that a little 2 hard drag. My it's a chew and it's one 9
13:40.79
Evan
Now I'm like is is yeah, is it. Plus is it This is it This one is it it? Yeah um, so yeah, so you are a classic example of yes, it's really really complicated and there's a lot to keep track of with with your pets. So.
13:50.42
tanyawilliams
Um, yeah.
13:55.35
Evan
I certainly wouldn't be feeling bad about this. It took me literally 3 years of university to understand this stuff. That's how complicated it is so no one should feel bad about this at all I still don't know everything.
13:55.44
tanyawilliams
I My bad mom. But.
14:02.48
tanyawilliams
Um, so basically we shouldn' carefully right? So like but when we're getting like obviously whatever people are recommending to us to get whether it's a ve or the you know we at the pet store or whatever we should be looking at the packet to go. Okay.
14:18.43
Evan
Um.
14:18.87
tanyawilliams
What are the the big things that this actually covers and does it cover those main 3 things and yes it does okay, that's going to be great, but no, it doesn't cover heart worm. So then I need to look at a separate treatment for heart worm or hookworm or whatever it might be so we need to be reading like actual reading labels and stuff right.
14:38.35
Evan
Yeah, your ah your best bet is um to talk to your vet, especially like the nurses as well. The nurses are really really, really really, They're actually generally better than the vets in clinic.
14:40.60
tanyawilliams
First.
14:48.74
tanyawilliams
Yeah, yeah.
14:51.89
Evan
Ah, because this is what they deal with all the time and the vets doing surgery and other stuff and the nurses are generally dealing with that over the counter day to-day so they're very very well versed in this. Um I know there's a lot of people like to think that oh the pharmaceutical industry vets are just in the pocket of no, definitely not.
15:01.60
tanyawilliams
Um, yeah.
15:11.40
Evan
Um, we definitely definitely aren't We're just doing it to protect your dog that is it and there's very very good products out there because there are so many a lot of people have a bit of you know? oh but my vet said this and my vet said this and it's like well guess what both your vets are probably right.
15:13.22
tanyawilliams
Um, yeah.
15:26.67
tanyawilliams
Um, yeah, by yeah, and that's true as new gonna be. There's gonna be multiple products that are gonna do the same s form So it's so what doesn't mean that was a bit.
15:30.39
Evan
There's just 2 different ways of doing it. There's more than one way to skin a cat as we never say in the veterinary industry. Ah so yeah, yes, there's multiple combinations you can use it also depends on your postcode like Australia is a massive country.
15:46.64
tanyawilliams
The.
15:49.76
Evan
We have thousands of parasites and it depends on where you're where you live.
15:52.34
tanyawilliams
So a vetting cairns could be telling someone someone something different to someone who's in Sydney because obviously they live.
15:57.91
Evan
Oh completely different or even even larger someone on the East Coast compared to literally anywhere else in Australia massive differences in parasites and stuff so you need like one quarter of the protection in Perth.
16:04.10
tanyawilliams
Right? Yes, okay.
16:16.32
tanyawilliams
Wow. Okay, so I'd never thought of it particularly before I mean obviously with most animals. There's certain areas where there's more of you know 1 particular thing than than the other but I just like I suppose a lot of people when you don't really know a lot about this stuff. You just make an assumption that oh they're everywhere so you know and.
16:16.60
Evan
That you need in Sydney or Brisbane.
16:33.22
Evan
Yeah.
16:34.64
tanyawilliams
You're all going to be the same. But yeah, what you're saying makes perfect sense. It's common sense right? but it's not until you hear someone say you go? Yeah okay I'll get it like that makes sense. Yeah, which so when it comes to ticks now I've um, you know.
16:41.66
Evan
Yes, very very big country. Very very big country and very biodiverse.
16:51.64
tanyawilliams
Every time I've sort of noticed one. It's because I've been sitting there patting them or you know sort of giving them a little rub over whatever and and you've seen something going. Okay is that just a piece of dirt is that a saw like oh hang on. Let's look a bit closer. We usually get the magnifying glass out is that a tick. Um, yeah, okay it is now we need to take some sort of action. What is.
16:56.99
Evan
O.
17:10.92
tanyawilliams
Best way for people to check their dogs for ticks I mean a lot of it tends to be from that interaction when you're patting them and stuff but is there a proper method for actually checking for ticks on a dog.
17:21.14
Evan
There is but the same stage that patting and the the the actual reason why cats get less paralysis tick than dogs is because cats sit on your lap and you pat them all the time So you find things really easily on a cat.
17:32.92
tanyawilliams
Is in.
17:39.21
Evan
Dogs. It's slightly different smaller dogs like oodles and stuff like that. They're very much a lap dog so we do have more time actually touching the dog and we feel things that are out of place on our pets very quickly which is why you kind of feel the little pea or the little.
17:41.50
tanyawilliams
Um, yeah.
17:47.41
tanyawilliams
Yes.
17:56.60
Evan
Thing under your fingers and go oh what's that and people investigate but the most important thing is every single day when you come home. Um, from say a walk or anything like that is check the ears. Check the neck Check the Chin check under the arms.
17:57.14
tanyawilliams
Yeah, yeah.
18:08.00
tanyawilliams
Yeah, so when you is inside or outside the o right? Okay, so they can get inside the ear not just on top of the year as well.
18:15.29
Evan
That's the most. Yeah, they're the most important place because they're warm and moist.
18:23.73
Evan
You're inside the ear. Definitely they love the P a of the ear they can hide in those little folds and go um, um, um and the skin is also very thin there.
18:31.11
tanyawilliams
Um, yeah, so typically around the face is more common than somewhere else in the body like what.
18:37.24
Evan
Not really the face so much Bush ticks yes because they do like the eyes because they do really look for that moisture but things like paralysis tick. Especially it's baha gear behind and inside the ears but under the neck.
18:47.83
tanyawilliams
Um.
18:54.79
Evan
Like in those folds of skin. They love those Folds like yeah, same with under the arms and under the the leg pits as well. They just love warm and moist.
18:55.29
tanyawilliams
Um.
19:02.35
tanyawilliams
Woman Moist, Okay, so we need to be thinking about that. But as you said I think especially after they've been to a dog park or they've been out for a bushwalk or they've been walking the suburbs like they're going to pick they can pick stuff up.
19:12.86
Evan
Yes, yes, and the other big thing that people don't realize as well is a lot of texts aren't actually picked up by the dog. They're picked up by you? Yeah, so if you're wearing long pants or anything like that. Um.
19:20.25
tanyawilliams
Oh okay.
19:28.23
Evan
Yeah, a tech wall grab onto you and then as soon as you walk in your home. They go Well I don't want to be here. This isn't enamel these are pants I'm gonna go find something to nibble on oh look, there's a dog in the corner. Let's go get that.
19:38.86
tanyawilliams
Oh my God see I didn't think more.
19:42.45
Evan
Same as worms and things like that. Yeah people go oh my cat's an inside cat or my dogs an inside dog can't get this and I go but you go outside? Yeah, and so that's how worms that's how worms get the most dogs is they come in on people's feet.
19:49.83
tanyawilliams
I'm brainy.
19:56.54
tanyawilliams
Oh my God I Never you go I would never have thought that I'll just assume that I'll take my dog for a walk and it's got it tearing grass or sniff things and that's how kind of get jump on.
20:09.30
Evan
Yep, that's deaf Yeah, that's definitely a great way but a lot of the time they're on you and they don't like you.
20:13.26
tanyawilliams
Wow. Ah I'm glad about that. But but at the same time you think oh my God It's my fault. Yeah, it's um, that's some so definitely something that is a bit eye Openinging. So. I Mean really, you should be where does that mean when you're walking your dog you should have tighter fitting clothes rather than loose pants that they can jump onto does that make a difference.
20:37.40
Evan
Ah, no I just say look just throw some um ah basically like you know's ah, a pyrethoid based Um, what's called yeah like Aard or anything like just spray your pants. Um, yeah, there's quite a few
really good australian.
20:51.24
tanyawilliams
Um, Er God Ah, okay.
20:56.60
Evan
Products out there that actually Repel Paralysis tech as well. Um, think it's no bytes is a brisbane company. Um, no bytes I think they call they're in bunnings in places like that I'm pretty yes no bytes Insec repellent.
21:01.65
tanyawilliams
Um, days on your door. What was that sorry.
21:16.53
Evan
Um, they're the one that I use because it's safe on dogs and you and really works. Um, yes, well I spray it on my hands and then just wipe them over the dog.
21:18.12
tanyawilliams
Wrote. Okay so you can let you spread that on your dog What wrote? yeah.
21:30.76
Evan
Um, so yeah I think that's actually going through Apvma approvals at the moment so it can be registered to be used on dogs. Um, but yeah I use it because it's all plant-based yeah.
21:37.62
tanyawilliams
Okay, okay, so that's good thing. Yeah, okay so if a dog gets a tick that now there's probably all going to be all sorts of wives styleles around this about what to do right? like I remember we've removed ticks before by putting. Um.
21:48.98
Evan
Yes.
21:53.79
tanyawilliams
Methho on a cotton bar putting that on there and it sort of put sort of pulls out really easily. We've got remember getting a thing a couple of years ago it was like a little tick remove it and ah was this funny looking device that apparently removes ticks I don't think people used it. It could have been a tick pick um tick um, and and that's gonna sound funny coming across.
22:05.40
Evan
A tick pick. Yep.
22:12.49
tanyawilliams
Ah, depending on how you listen to that tick pick um that like is there like a particular thing that you go. What should I do like I've found the tick. It looks like it's you know it hasn't been in there long I may not need to go to vet yet. How do I get it off.
22:30.29
Evan
Ah, so your best the US bet is unless you have a tick pick and I suggest everyone to get 1 They cost about ten cents little tiny piece of plastic. Um, that's got a little curve in it and a little v shape on the end.
22:33.66
tanyawilliams
Nick.
22:42.51
Evan
Basically you slide it onto the tick's head and just lever it out. They're easily the best way to get rid of them number 2 go to your vet. They've got these and then you also want to check which one it is um which is very important. Um, so.
22:45.20
tanyawilliams
Okay, yeah.
23:00.80
Evan
If you can't do anything I tell a lot of people do not try and use your fingers to pull it out. You'll probably squeeze it get blood everywhere and its head will stay in there and because all the venom and all the zoonotic diseases pass in the Saliva you're going to leave the head in there and the Saliva is going to stay there and it's going to keep going.
23:08.95
tanyawilliams
Um, yeah.
23:16.77
tanyawilliams
Yeah.
23:20.10
Evan
So what I generally tell people to do so a lot of this a lot of paralysis tick are generally found around the coastal regions and in Sand as well. A lot of people. They'll be out fishing. You can use a little bit of fishing line make a little loop I can do it with dental floss too I've done this.
23:34.79
tanyawilliams
Yet.
23:39.20
Evan
Done this before as well make a little loop put it over the tick slowly tighten the loop like around its head and face and then pull it off like upwards and that'll pull it off.
23:50.48
tanyawilliams
Okay, but then others said if you don't do it right? You run the risk of not getting it all out properly. Yeah, okay, cool. Good tonight. Um so how do we know? like if we've seen a tick and we go look. It looks like it hasn't sort of got too much blood in it yet and stuff like that. How.
23:55.40
Evan
Um, yeah I always say unless you got a tick pick take to the vet. Yeah.
24:07.85
tanyawilliams
Like how long do we have before any sort of paralysis might set in. So if it is a paralysis tick and we go Oh it's got one should we be madly panicked or should we go. You know what? let's just okay, we're making a point we'll take a day now. Get it removed like how long do you have before that really poisonous.
24:07.86
Evan
Um.
24:25.77
tanyawilliams
Stuff like can kick in and and really harm a dog I knew you want to say that you know.
24:29.55
Evan
How long is a piece of string So when it comes to a couple of the Tick-borne diseases. They're immediate. Um, they're in the Saliva You only need one little bit of bacterium there with Paralysis tick because it's.
24:37.22
tanyawilliams
This here.
24:46.80
Evan
Ah, basically a venom that's in the saliva um, some dogs can have a tick for 12 hours and die some dogs can have a tick for two weeks and be perfectly fine. So that's the thing I tell basically anyone just go to the vet. It's so.
24:57.55
tanyawilliams
Wow. Okay.
25:04.48
tanyawilliams
Um, yeah, absolutely.
25:06.12
Evan
And to be safe than sorry. Ah, um, yeah, it really it really really really is Um, yeah, it's not necessarily like if it's just to remove a tick a lot of the time like because.
25:12.59
tanyawilliams
Much cheaper to go to the vet. Get it removed and spend eighty one hundred bucks on a consultation. Whatever then but.
25:25.56
Evan
Like we deal with this all the time. Um, first of all, you probably won't see the vet the nurse like someone at the front desk will probably do it like a lot of people take this you know take a dog like I I've got a tick just precaution. Can you just check it and I'll go yeah and I'll have a look at nuts all good. That's a Bush Techck don't worry. Um.
25:27.91
tanyawilliams
Brought just.
25:44.37
Evan
Or they'll go yeah that was a paralysis tick and then they'll be able to evaluate things from there and they'll be able to do a couple little tests to see if anything's happened to your dog or if it's in the process of that inventimation. So yeah, it's It's generally something that it's It's just so much better to be safe than sorry, do not.
25:49.74
tanyawilliams
Yeah.
26:04.36
Evan
Ask the internet that is my number 1 piece of advice do not ask the
internet. Um, yeah, that's a brilliant way to kill your dog.
26:04.64
tanyawilliams
Me. Co.
26:14.34
tanyawilliams
Ah, because this yeah and I think that's a typical first step off and it's like oh my god I need to Google it. What do I do.
26:20.48
Evan
Yeah, and people want to tell you things they know and they don't know a thing but they I know this and yeah, unfortunately yeah, it's It's a yeah, it's It's a bad place your advice.
26:26.69
tanyawilliams
Um, yeah for that's pretty Good. So and of course taking taking them to the vet's going to be much cheaper as world if they can get that. Really early and get that you know get it off the dog before it does anything before it sets in and then you're yeah dollars. Yeah, true. Yeah.
26:46.83
Evan
It's also just a massive peace of mind thing like there's nothing like you're you're going to sit there at home and every weird thing your dog does you're going to go who is that? yeah and it's like well no if you got someone to go. Yeah, that's not a paralysis tick and then it's like oh okay, can go home breathe easy.
27:01.25
tanyawilliams
Yeah, absolutely. So yeah, um, and which we should be doing as dog owners every every day. Um, what are the early signs that our dog has a tick. So if we can't look. We've.
27:04.84
Evan
Like and Pat yourself on the back for doing the right thing.
27:18.26
tanyawilliams
There's something. There's weird behavior or there's something happening and we can't really see anything on the dog or feel anything and I know that they can be well hidden right? because they been vets can sometimes have trouble trying to find them. Yeah, yeah, so what are we looking for if we're going.
27:25.56
Evan
Yes, we I've shaved a lot of dogs. Ah so basically the way the ven works is it works on the muscular system and what it does is. It's it's.
27:39.15
tanyawilliams
This is.
27:45.32
Evan
Basically fills up receptor receptor lines so you can't express muscle contraction anymore. So you basically become paralyzed and it starts from the tail and works it works its way to the head. So one of the first things we see is a dropped tail.
27:59.95
tanyawilliams
Um, and.
28:04.21
Evan
Um, or noticing noticing things to do with the back legs like they can start to like you'll hear the like the nails especially if they're on concrete you'll start to hear their nails dragging on their back feet. Um, and the other big thing is because it affects the ah the.
28:11.66
tanyawilliams
Um, yeah, yeah, the count leg people.
28:23.37
Evan
The the phng Gm so much your dog does what we call a bok um or as we say basically um, like when when you're when you're a young male and your voice was breaking you used to go hi like that.
28:38.54
tanyawilliams
Ah, yes.
28:41.13
Evan
Um, so a dog will literally sit there and go like bak but bo sort of thing. Um, so yeah, we call it a bok so it's this like high pitched sort of right sort of thing their their bark just sounds funny. Um, one of the first tests will also do is
a ventle stick will stick our fingers down their throat.
28:42.99
tanyawilliams
Oh.
28:51.90
tanyawilliams
Okay, yeah.
28:59.76
tanyawilliams
Yeah, right? Wow Okay I made her paralysis and their legs and stuff where you can see that they can't We've got it things like the balk and the gag reflex and stuff I mean obviously I'm not a vet so I wouldn't know that but like that's obviously things we need to be.
29:00.48
Evan
And see if they have a gag reflex if their gag reflex is diminished probably Paralysis tech. Yeah yes.
29:19.90
tanyawilliams
Looking for are they showing these sorts of signs um be fatal.
29:26.67
Evan
Yeah, and at the end of the day like you know you can't um, you can't reverse the tick paralysis you can kind of only stop it getting worse. So that's why early intervention is always.
29:34.12
tanyawilliams
Yes.
29:40.59
Evan
The best thing.
29:41.27
tanyawilliams
So what sort of things. Do you guys? do ah as treatment. So the dog comes in. It's got a paralysis you know, um tick on it. It's not not not really you know doing too well or whatever what sorts of things. Do you guys? do if you can't obviously reverse that like to treat it.
29:56.67
Evan
Um, so yeah, so we can stop it getting worse. So there isn't a tick serum that was developed in Australia. Um, so basically what that does is it just like where where the tick venom binds.
29:59.70
tanyawilliams
Is that.
30:14.70
Evan
Basically fills that spot in our body. So No more tick Venom can bind to places where it shouldn't Um, so that's why like once it's bound. It's there. You can only use your body's natural defenses and time to get rid of it. Um, So there's no sort of like we can't give them drugs to you know, get rid of it. We can basically just give them lots of fluids and make sure they don't stop breathing So Supportive care is really really important constant monitoring of their breath. Some of them need to go on respirators and that's where things get really expensive. Yeah.
30:51.81
tanyawilliams
Wow, This breaks my heart um, are there certain dogs that ah um, you see that more often tend to have ticks on them like you know, maybe working dogs For example, Ah, you know might be but I mean obviously you know I've got Oodles. We look after a lot of Oodles. So. Um, you know it's probably easier to notice it because you're patting them all the time and they're lap dogs So you're sitting there doing all that but are they certain breeds that tender I wouldn't say attract ticks but I like have more ticks than others.
31:15.44
Evan
Moon.
31:25.24
Evan
Well I mean I wouldn't say more tics just probably just because they have the ah because they have longer fur. Um I Do find that and people have a tendency not to feel ticks as well. So They don't have time to pull them out. So. Dogs with longer fur you do generally see a little bit more purely but just because um, you can't really tell until it's a little bit not too late, but they're showing physical signs and that's when things get bad is when they're starting to show the physical signs.
31:46.24
tanyawilliams
Taught it for yeah.
31:52.49
tanyawilliams
Yeah.
32:00.90
tanyawilliams
Wow. Okay, so early intervention is well. Prevention is the best way to deal with it but early intervention if I have got one is the next step.
32:00.94
Evan
Probably you know the tick's probably been there for a couple of days.
32:08.59
Evan
Yes, by a long way. Yeah yes, and that's why I say it's always better to be safe than sorry um I haven't seen like you know I've I've never seen someone come in like you know you know once a week going. Oh is this a tick is this a tick is this tick.
32:25.50
tanyawilliams
Um, yeah.
32:26.60
Evan
You might see them once a year so yeah they're not things that you know, really really affect unless you've got you know you're in a place where there is a lot of ticks which is sort of more regional. Um, it's not something you see a lot of as a pet owner so that's another reason why it's.
32:44.80
tanyawilliams
Um, yeah, yeah, it's not something. Yeah, it's not about it's about you us? Yeah, exactly that because it's not about like their teeth. You see their teeth every day so you can see how they you know they're good or bad or whatever but something like tick. It's not an everyday occurrece for most.
32:45.90
Evan
People don't really know a lot of stuff but you kind of only need one once.
32:58.72
Evan
Yeah.
33:03.81
tanyawilliams
And god um, but well I mean you've sort of blown my mind because just the the numbers around parasites and and and so forth that you mentioned earlier when we started with just like that's just like really like I would not have had any idea that that was that's those sort of numbers. But everything you've said about prevention is so true though the fact that we. Really can do this pretty cheaply to prevent something that is going to give us happy and healthy ah dogs. Um, and hopefully not have to take them the vet and spend thousands of dollars to get treated is you know prevention with anything is is always better than cure as you've said. So.
33:28.30
Evan
Um.
33:39.76
Evan
Yeah.
33:41.27
tanyawilliams
Um, ah, there's definitely lots of takeaways from this episode today I'm sure we can keep talking and talking. But um I think we covered the really sort of key things and 1 of the things that I've found really interesting that was a fact that you may need more than one type of treatment as well. So I just you know like a lot of people you buy this because the vets said this this is the best 1 for your dog. Yep, great. Think you've got all the bases covered but that might not necessarily be the case. So I think that's a really important takeaway that people need to go and do a little bit of research. Well yeah, ah.
34:06.85
Evan
Yeah, and I always say go to your local vet. They know what parasites are in your area and they're very well versed and whatnot. So yeah, it's always just and you've only got to do it once like you only
kind of need to know how to protect your pet once and go Okay, that's what they do for life.
34:17.19
tanyawilliams
True.
34:24.78
tanyawilliams
Yeah, and we just face it. There's always other products coming out isn't there. So.
34:25.60
Evan
Until something new and better comes out. Yeah, well there there is a new one that just came out that's literally about to be launched which is a fantastic new product that yeah I don't know if it's actually out yet I know it's had. It's got Registration. We're the first country in the world to have it too which is fantastic.
34:48.54
tanyawilliams
Um, what's it called him. Oh okay.
34:50.10
Evan
Um, ah, bravecto quantum so it's a it's a vet only injection and it will protect your dog from fleas and ticks for twelve months yes
34:59.73
tanyawilliams
Ah, so is that similar because mine get a heart worm injection that they get twelve months so ah
35:04.54
Evan
Exactly like the SR 12 injections same technology same pretty much everything just ah, just a very slightly different drug whereas the s r twelve is a moxydectins feral this is a fluallanus feral so exactly the same sort of thing.
35:16.55
tanyawilliams
Okay, a big words. Okay, oh that'll be um I'll keep an eye out for that I'll be interested because that makes everything so much easy because then you don't worry about forgetting about it and go oh crap I haven't had their bravecto this you know this month or whatever whereas if they've got twelve months protection that feels like a much better way to do it.
35:35.92
Evan
Yeah, um, so there's still a little bit of proof is in the pudding stuff yet, but it is an option for some people and there's also you know I have a few questions about you know what? if my dog has a reaction and it's got a twelve month
35:38.51
tanyawilliams
Yes.
35:52.80
Evan
Thing inside of it that you know so there's there's a few questions or whatnot. But I mean the sr 12 works very well but moxiedacttin is a very different drug. So yeah, that's why I'm like let's see what happens. Um, the registration is going ahead. The studies look very good. Um, but yeah i.
35:52.42
tanyawilliams
Um, you may.
36:10.57
Evan
I'm personally going to give it a year and see what happens because there are so many really good products out there at the moment. Um, but yeah it is It is something that has come along and hopefully could change quite a few things and how people treat their pets.
36:10.90
tanyawilliams
Yes, it.
36:23.42
tanyawilliams
Excellent. Well I love this conversation I think it's such an important one to have and as dog owners we have to be responsible and accountable for what we're doing to make sure that we are raising happy and healthy oodles or whatever dog that you might have. Thank you? Dr Evan for sharing your expertise as you said you know you live live and breathe this stuff every single day so you know what's going on in this area. So really appreciate those tips and all that um, those insights because I know that anyone listening to this can walk away going. Oh my god now I know more and I can be prepared and and do what I need to do to to keep my my. Ah, little angels. You know, healthy? oh.
36:58.62
Evan
Get no worries at all. It's been quite good and yeah your podcast yet really really helps a lot of people. So yeah, it's much appreciative of being on.
37:05.62
tanyawilliams
I'm so thank thank you very much for being part of it. It's um, it's great to have people like you that can share so much knowledge I think that's the you know. You know we need that because as we we don't do it ourselves every day we you know you read and you see stuff and your vet tells you things but just to have more insight is is super helpful. Awesome! Thanks Dr. Evan bye
37:23.16
Evan
Nowhere is it all. It's been my pleasure now. Is it all talk saying.