Dapto vet Matt Young says dogs and cats should be checked for ticks every day. Picture: ANDY ZAKELI
A small temperature spike was all it took to summon the ticks for their annual Illawarra onslaught.
Although barely into spring, ticks have already been discovered buried in the skin of cats, dogs, and even kids.
Matt Young of Dapto's Companion Animal Veterinary Hospital has treated a steady stream of animals suffering paralysis tick bites in recent weeks.
"We've had quite a few animals with them on but we've only had one that's had paralysis so far," he said.
Dr Young said the dog thankfully pulled through, mainly because its owners sought treatment quickly.
He said it was important for dog owners to keep an eye out for the symptoms of a paralysis tick bite.
"Vomiting, difficulty breathing, weakness, wobbliness in the legs - eventually they'll completely collapse," he said.
"But the earlier we see them the better, so as soon as they show any sign of tick paralysis they need to be treated straight away."
In cats, one of the first obvious symptoms was choking, Dr Young said.
"They get really distressed, a lot of our treatment with cats is pretty much getting them to relax and leaving them alone because the more you handle them the more stressed out they get," he said.
Dr Young said there were tick prevention products on the market. "But regardless of what you're using the most important thing is to feel for ticks every day on your dog or cat."