australia with dogs Archives

31/Oct/2022

Whether it’s chasing the sun for a Winter get away or warming up for Summer, the beach is a favourite holiday destination for many of us, including our pets. But, not every dog-friendly beach is without risk. There are a few things that you need to be aware of to help keep your dog safe amongst the fun of sun, sea and sand.

Here are our top six risks to be aware of when taking your dog to the beach:

1. Sun protection

Just like us, our pets can get sunburnt and develop various types of skin cancers. Fortunately, cats and dogs are covered in hair which offers some protection from the sun. So, that gives you the hint – the most likely spots that need some extra sun protection are areas where the haircoat is thin, the top of the nose, ears, tummy and inner thighs. Pets with white hair and pink skin in these areas are most at risk of getting sunburnt.

The best prevention is to use a pet-friendly sunscreen, just in case they decide to lick it, and try to discourage your dog or cat to lie in the sun in the middle of the day. A zinc-based barrier cream like Sudocrem is also a good option. Monitor these higher risk areas of their body for any new spots, lumps or scabs and have them checked by your vet as soon as possible if you do notice any changes.

2. Sea hares

Sea hares are a species of large sea slug that are usually a purplish brown colour and around 30-40cm long. They are found in intertidal rocky shores and seagrass areas in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. Under certain weather conditions, large numbers can be washed ashore onto beaches and this is when they pose a risk to dogs.

Sea hares are coated in thick slime and will squirt a purple dye if threatened. Both the slime and the purple dye contain toxins, thought to be accumulated in the sea hare from the algae that they eat. Unfortunately, this algal toxin is highly toxic to dogs so even a small lick of a sea hare can lead to signs of toxicity.

Signs include:

Leg weakness
Over-excitement
Tremors/seizures
Excessive drooling
Vomiting
Quickly leading to death

If you see or suspect that your dog has licked or eaten a sea hare, act immediately, don’t wait for signs of intoxication:

Wipe the slime out of your dog’s mouth and off their tongue with a wet cloth
If your dog has already developed signs then use a dry cloth to wipe their mouth and tongue, don’t use water as they may choke
Get to the closest vet as quickly as it is safe to do so, calling them to let them know that you’re on your way
Sea hare intoxication is treatable if caught early

3. Blue-ringed octopus

It’s hard to believe that the colourful and tiny blue-ringed octopus is one of the most venomous marine animals in the world. Smaller than the palm of your hand, these critters hide out in tide pools, rock pools and coral reefs of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, meaning that they are found most of the way around the east, south and west coasts of Australia. They are quite shy so will only bite if provoked or handled, painlessly envenomating the victim with a tetrodotoxin, produced by bacteria within their salivary glands. Each blue-ringed octopus carries enough tetrodotoxin to kill 26 adult humans so keep a close watch on your dog if they like to play in rockpools.

Tetrodotoxin envenomation acts by causing muscle paralysis within minutes, so signs and death can occur very quickly whilst the victim is still conscious.

** Please be careful as tetrodotoxin is also a risk for humans **

Signs to watch for in dogs include:

Leg weakness or wobbly walking
Dilated pupils (the black part in the centre of the eye)
Floppiness or paralysis
Paralysis of the breathing muscles leading to death

If you suspect that your dog has been bitten by a blue-ringed octopus, don’t wait for signs:

Get to the closest vet as quickly as it is safe to do so, calling them to let them know that you’re on your way
Treatment is possible if breathing can be maintained. Artificial respiration (chest compressions in large dogs or mouth-to-nose resuscitation in small dogs) can be effective until you reach a vet
If paralysed, keep your dog’s head elevated above their body on a folded towel to reduce the risk of regurgitation

4. Pufferfish

Most people are familiar with the inflating family of pufferfish and toadfish. They are commonly discovered on beaches and jetties, washed up or left behind by fishermen.

These fish species have an internal gland which produces tetrodotoxin, the same toxin as the blue-ringed octopus as listed above. Some species also have external spikes which carry the toxin. No matter if the fish is alive or dead, they are highly toxic and can be deadly to dogs if eaten, chewed or licked.

Refer to the signs to watch for in the blue-ringed octopus section above. Clinical signs may occur quickly or slowly depending on whether the fish is swallowed whole or chewed.

As for a blue-ringed octopus bite, pufferfish toxicity is treatable if caught early and the dog’s breathing can be maintained

5. Jellyfish

Types of jellyfish vary with season and location, with some more venomous than others, although the most dangerous jellyfish tend to occur in warmer waters. Although dogs are at a lower risk for jellyfish stings than humans due to their fur coats, stings are still a possibility especially on thin-haired areas like their face and tummy.

Prevention is key, so keep an eye out for jellyfish warnings or signs. If jellyfish are present in the water or washed up on the beach, avoid swimming and keep your dog on a lead to reduce the risk of contact.

First aid for jellyfish stings in dogs:

Wash tentacles off with sea water, taking care not to be stung yourself
If hives (a bumpy skin rash) are present at the sting sites, an antihistamine can be given – please ask your veterinarian for the type and dose of antihistamine as some aren’t suitable
Pour warm-hot 41C water over the sting site for 20 minutes – this denatures the venom – this is not boiling water, you should be able to tolerate it on your skin, we don’t want to treat your dog for burns as well as the sting!
Monitor your dog closely. If they experience extreme pain, breathing problems or vomiting – get to a veterinary hospital as soon as is practical and safe to do so.

6. Sharks and crocodiles

These apex predators don’t take no for an answer and can both swim quite close to the shoreline, so stay alert for signs indicating that they may be present in your location. Crocodiles inhabit the warmer waters (ocean and inland) of northern Australia and tend to be more active in the warmer seasons but they are a risk at all times. Many species of shark are present in all Australian ocean habitats.

This is another risk where prevention is definitely the best option:

Don’t allow your dog to swim or sit by the water in high risk areas – dogs tend to splash and attract attention
Keep your dog secured, on a leash/rope or within a fenced area, if they are prone to wandering off or have poor recall

So, in general, be aware of the risks at the individual beach you’re heading to and only allow your dog to explore beaches off lead if they have good recall and you’re paying close attention to them. We don’t need to be worried about taking our dogs to the beach, just aware so we can all relax and have fun in the sun! Make sure you pack your Vet in a Van – Navigator Pet First Aid Kit in your beach bag for extra peace of mind.

Dr Tania

22/Sep/2020

When it comes to travelling, it’s all about looking for products that are convenient AND keep our pets safe. We’ve compared a few popular parasite treatments currently available, which have the best effect on our target parasites, to help you decide on which one suits your dog best.

Which parasites are a risk for my dog?

The most important parasites to cover whilst travelling are Heartworm and Paralysis Ticks, as they can be deadly and may not be part of your usual preventative regime if you don’t live in these areas. Brown dog ticks transmit the bacteria causing Ehrlichiosis, found in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland (see our article on Ehrlichia). Generally, all dogs should use a preventative for fleas and intestinal worms year-round regardless of location (roundworm, hookworm and Hydatid tapeworm can be passed to people). Hydatid tapeworm is a risk for dogs eating raw meat or offal, and Tasmania requires dogs to be treated before travel to our island state (see our article on Travel to Tasmania). Mites can be an occasional issue, whilst Sarcoptic mange is more likely if your dog is exploring areas with foxes and wombats and can also be passed to people.

How reliable are parasite preventative medications?

It is important to recognise that preventative products are not a guarantee, especially with parasites like the Paralysis Tick. All dogs travelling or living in a Tick area should be checked daily (at a minimum) for ticks – see our Tick Check Guide for further information. The majority of preventative treatments only kill the tick after it has attached, so the sooner a tick is removed the less chance there is of infections or other complications. In WA, the NT and now Queensland, Ehrlichia is transmitted from Brown Dog Ticks to dogs in a shorter time than spot-ons or chews can act, so the Seresto collar is recommended as it repels and kills ticks on contact before they can attach.

Ensuring that preventative treatments are repeated as recommended is imperative to their success. Monthly treatments must be given exactly monthly (within a 2-3 day window). We know that time flies and treatments can be easily forgotten when busy or travelling so choosing a longer term option may suit better in many circumstances for optimum health, convenience and peace of mind. Studies have shown the injectable heartworm treatment, Proheart SR12, to be the most effective heartworm preventative, both due to it’s ongoing long-term action as well as the susceptibility of heartworm to it’s active ingredient.

Likewise, choosing between an oral, spot-on, collar or injectable treatment depends on your dog’s lifestyle as well as the parasites being targeted. For example, if your dog loves swimming then a spot-on treatment is less likely to be as effective as an oral or injectable one (Seresto collars are waterproof so can, and should, be left on whilst swimming or bathing).

Product	Bravecto spot-on	Bravecto chew	Nexguard Spectra chew	Simparica Trio chew	Seresto collar	Advantix spot-on	ProHeart SR12 injection	Milbemax tablet	Drontal chew
Heartworm
Fleas	(5-6 months)	(3 months)			(8 months)
Paralysis Ticks	(5-6 months)	(3-4 months)			(4 months)
Brown Dog Ticks	(3 months)	(2 months)			(4 months)
Mosquitoes Sandflies Stableflies						(repels and kills)
Lice
Ear Mites
Sarcoptes Mites
Demodex Mites
Roundworm
Hookworm							(4 months)
Whipworm
Flea Tapeworm	(prevents by killing fleas, doesn’t treat current infection)	(prevents by killing fleas, doesn’t treat current infection)	(prevents by killing fleas, doesn’t treat current infection)
Other								(Hydatids)	(Hydatids, Giardia)
Approved for puppies from 8 weeks	(from 2kg)	(from 2kg)	(from 2kg)	(from 1.25kg)	(from 7 weeks)	(from 7 weeks)	(from 12 weeks)	(from 2 weeks / 0.5kg)	(from 2 weeks)
Safe for breeding, pregnant and lactating dogs			(not evaluated)	(not evaluated)	(not established)
Recommended treatment interval	5 months	3 months	1 month	1 month	4 months	2 weeks (Paralysis Tick) 1 month	1 year	1 month (Heartworm / Hydatids) 3 months (GI worms)	6 weeks (Hydatids) 3 months (GI worms)

Are parasite preventative treatments safe?

You may have heard some concerns regarding some parasite treatments causing seizures. The isoxazoline class of treatments, which include the active ingredients in Bravecto, Nexguard Spectra and Simparica Trio, have been associated with neurologic adverse reactions including tremors, ataxia, and seizures in dogs with or without a history of neurologic disorders. These side effects have a very low incidence and the protection against Paralysis Tick is regarded as a higher benefit than this small risk (in other words, Paralysis Tick toxicosis causing possible death, or a minimum of very expensive treatment, is much worse than an unlikely seizure), but the manufacturers advise that these products should be used with caution in dogs with a history of seizures. All products don’t suit all pets, so please chat to your veterinarian about your dog’s individual risk factors.

So, what’s our personal opinion?

After looking at the research, results and safety data behind each product, along with the practicality of selecting the most convenient options that provide the most thorough possible protection against our target parasites whilst travelling, we like a combination approach. Our choice is to use a Bravecto chew and Milbemax/Drontal every 3 months, with a yearly injection of Proheart SR12, AND add a Seresto collar (every 4 months) if you’re travelling in WA or the NT due to the tick-borne disease Erhlichiosis (see our blog article on Ehrlichia for more information).

The other common option that covers all bases and is easy when travelling is Nexgard Spectra monthly with a tapewormer tablet every 3 months AND add a Seresto collar (every 4 months) if you’re travelling in WA or the NT due to the tick-borne disease Erhlichiosis (see our blog article on Ehrlichia for more information).

But, the bottom line is that the products that you ultimately use with your dog need to suit your individual dog and are your choice, so do your research and seek veterinary advice first. Dr Tania is happy to chat with you if you’d like to talk it through.

One of our responsibilities as travelling pet owners is that we don’t contribute to spreading diseases and vectors (like ticks, Ehrlichia or heartworm) further than their current endemic zone, so preventative actions are important not only for the health of your own pet but for all of us.

Want a discount on pet parasite prevention delivered to your door?

Head to www.obay.com.au and enter our unique code VIAV100R at the top left of the screen for an exclusive discount on all parasite preventatives and pet supplies.

Keep your chosen parasite preventatives handy by storing them in your Vet in a Van – Navigator Pet First Aid Kit

* Vet in a Van is in no way associated with or promoting any of these products, this comparison is based on information available from the respective manufacturers, product labels and personal experience, is intended to assist you in choosing a product that suits your dog and is not an exhaustive list of available options. Please discuss your dog’s individual requirements with your veterinarian and read the product label before starting a new product as underlying health issues and individual situations vary.

Telling tails…

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