Disease WatchDog, a veterinarian site, reports there have been 112 tick-paralysis cases in NSW in the past two months – including a few on the South Coast.

Unanderra vet Rod Batten said those numbers would rise rapidly over the next few months.

‘’We see the most cases in spring and early summer as the ticks are most active at this time of year when they reach adulthood,’’ he said.

‘’Animals and their owners are also more active in the warmer weather, and more likely to be going into tick-prone areas like bushland.’’

Pet owners should take preventative measures to protect their dogs and cats, and regularly check their coats. If they noticed symptoms like hind leg paralysis, vomiting or dilated pupils, they should seek medical attention.

‘’Pull the tick off and keep it for identification,’’ Dr Batten said. ‘’The sooner an animal is treated, the better it will recover.’’

Ticks are not as deadly for humans, but can cause serious symptoms in children according to Shell Cove Family Health GP Cathryn Archinal.

‘’With paralysis ticks, size is the issue with the toxins,’’ she said. ‘’One small tick on an adult is not going to be a big issue, but multiple ticks on a small child would be a cause for concern.’’

Dr Archinal advised using methylated spirits to kill the tick, before pulling it out. If the tick was quite embedded, it was worth a trip to a GP.