condamine-vets

Snake Season in South East Queensland: What Pet Owners Need to Know

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 01:47:56 GMT

Brown Snakes vs Black Snakes: Knowing the Difference

As the weather warms up across South East Queensland, snakes become more active, increasing the risk of our pets crossing paths with them.

For curious dogs and cats, a snake encounter can happen in seconds, whether they're exploring the backyard, investigating the garden or enjoying a walk through the bush.

We want our clients to know what to look out for, how to reduce the risk and, most importantly, what to do if they suspect their pet has been bitten.

Eastern brown snakes and red-bellied black snakes are both found throughout our region. While both are venomous, the symptoms of a bite can present quite differently.

Brown Snake Bites: The Danger of Looking 'Fine'

One of the most concerning things about brown snake bites is that your pet may suddenly collapse, then appear to make a complete recovery.

They might become weak or unsteady on their feet, only to get back up and behave as though nothing has happened.

This doesn't mean they're in the clear.

A pet can appear perfectly normal after receiving a potentially fatal dose of venom.

Brown snake venom can affect blood clotting and the nervous system, with some pets developing paralysis that requires extensive veterinary care.

Recovery isn't always straightforward. Some pets require lengthy hospital stays, and complications such as bleeding, or respiratory failure can occur. Every pet's recovery looks different.

If your pet suddenly collapses and then appears normal again, seek veterinary attention immediately.

Black Snake Bites: Signs to Look Out For

Red-bellied black snake bites can present differently, with affected pets often becoming dull, lethargic or weak.

Another important warning sign is a change in urine colour. Black snake venom can cause muscle damage, resulting in urine that appears dark brown or reddish.

It's also worth knowing that snake bite marks are incredibly difficult to find, particularly beneath a pet's fur.

Don't waste valuable time searching for puncture wounds. If you suspect a snake encounter, get your pet to a vet.

What Should You Do If Your Pet Encounters a Snake?

If you've seen your pet near a snake or suspect they've been bitten, seek veterinary attention immediately, even if they're acting completely normal.

Snake bite symptoms don't always appear straight away. In some cases, a pet may initially show no symptoms and have normal blood test results, only for signs of envenomation to develop more than 12 hours later.

That's why close veterinary monitoring for at least 24-48 hours following a suspected snake bite is so important.

If you suspect an encounter:

Keep your pet calm and still. Carry them where possible to minimise movement.
Contact your vet immediately. Let the clinic know you're on your way.
Don't attempt to catch or kill the snake. This puts you at risk, too.
Don't wait for symptoms. Early assessment and treatment can make a significant difference.

Your vet can perform testing to look for signs of envenomation and determine whether further treatment is required.

Why Monitoring Matters

Snake bites aren't always straightforward. Some pets recover relatively quickly, while others develop complications, including paralysis, blood clotting abnormalities, muscle damage or kidney problems.

An initial veterinary assessment also can't always rule out a snake bite, which is why ongoing monitoring is so important.

Unfortunately we aren't staffed 24 hours overnight. Depending on your pet's condition, we may recommend referral to a veterinary hospital with round-the-clock care to ensure they receive the monitoring and treatment they need. If you can’t do that, then we encourage our owners to watch their animals very closely over the next 24-48 hrs.

How Can You Reduce the Risk of Snake Encounters?

Unfortunately, there's no guaranteed way to keep snakes away from your property, particularly in regional and rural areas. They’re sneaky things!

However, there are some practical ways to reduce the risk:

Keep your grass short. Regular mowing reduces areas where snakes can shelter.
Clear away hiding places. Timber piles, overgrown gardens and general debris can provide shelter.
Reduce what attracts rodents. Where there are mice and rats, snakes may follow. Spilt birdseed, chicken and guinea pig feed, food scraps and hay stored for livestock can all attract rodents.
Keep dogs on leads during bush walks. Particularly where long grass or thick vegetation makes it difficult to see what's ahead.
Consider snake-proof fencing. Specialised snake mesh can help reduce encounters, although installation can be a significant undertaking.

Do Snake Repellents Actually Work?

You may have seen snake repellents advertised as a simple way to keep snakes away.

Unfortunately, there's limited reliable evidence that these products work, so we don't recommend relying on snake repellents to protect your pets.

Keeping your property tidy, reducing potential food sources and supervising pets in higher-risk areas are more practical preventative measures.

When in Doubt, Get Them Checked

One of the most important things to remember this snake season is that your pet doesn't need to look unwell to be in danger.

They may collapse and recover, seem a little quieter than usual or show no signs of illness in the hours following an encounter.

If you suspect your dog or cat has encountered a snake, don't take a wait-and-see approach.

Contact Condamine Veterinary Clinic immediately for advice and assessment. If we're closed, seek assistance from an emergency veterinary hospital without delay.

Snake season is part of life in South East Queensland, but recognising the warning signs and acting quickly can make all the difference.

Written by Dr Dr Christine Stirling,

BVSc (Hons), MANZCVS, Owner and Veterinarian at Condamine Veterinary Clinic.

This article is general information only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice. If you're worried about your pet, call us or your nearest emergency vet.

Paralysis Ticks: What Every Pet Owner Needs to Watch For

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 01:45:46 GMT

What is a paralysis tick?

Scratching your dog behind the ears and notice something that shouldn't be there… like a little lump, firm, and attached. Is it a scab? A grass seed? Or is it a tick?

Many ticks you find on a pet are harmless. But one species in particular, the paralysis tick, can put a healthy pet in hospital within a few days, and the early signs are often easy to miss.

The paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus) is an Australian tick species that injects a toxin in it’s saliva as it feeds. That toxin stops your pet’s nerves from talking properly to their muscles. The effect starts small and works its way through the body — first their back legs, then the front, then the muscles that control swallowing and, finally, their breathing.

What’s important to know is that a paralysis tick usually needs to be attached for around three to four days before a dog shows any sign at all, and the tick has to be at least partially engorged (at least 4mm long) before the toxin starts to do real damage.

The signs of a paralysis tick, in the order they usually appear

Tick paralysis follows a fairly predictable path. Knowing the order matters, because the early signs are the ones you can act on.

Stage 1: the things that look like nothing much

Your pet is off their food, a bit flat, or just not themselves
You notice a change in the bark — hoarse, softer, or a different pitch altogether
They are breathing heavier than usual
They have a dry cough, start gagging, or bringing up their food or water
They start drooling
Cats might be reluctant to jump up onto furniture.

Stage 2: the more obvious signs

Their back legs look unsteady or drunk, especially getting up
They start sitting down after a short walk, or not wanting to walk at all
They have a stagger that gets worse through the day

They’re unable to stand or hold themselves up
They have laboured or grunting breathing
Their gums look pale or blue-tinged
They collapse

Stage 3: the emergency signs

Can cats get a paralysis tick?

Yes - Cats can get tick paralysis too, and tend to show it as heavy breathing, withdrawal/hiding, and a wobble. Symptoms are often milder with less warning than dogs, but just as serious.

What can I do to prevent tick paralysis?

We recommend that you firstly use preventative treatments and do regular tick checks on your pet. Keeping cats indoors, and keeping outdoor areas clear and mowed down regularly can be helpful too

Tick prevention products

There are many good options out there now, 12-month injection, monthly and three-monthly chews, spot-on treatments, and collars.

Which paralysis tick treatment is more effective?

The short answer is the one you give them consistently and on-time. All are designed to protect your pet and prevent them from becoming unwell from a paralysis tick.

Choose the option that best suits your circumstances and can be administered when needed (monthly, quarterly or yearly). The important thing is that you don’t leave your pet unprotected for days, weeks or months. Prevention is always better than cure and sometimes by the time we see certain pets, it can be too late.

If you’re busy and have a habit of forgetting (like a lot of us), book in your injectable, 12-month flea and tick treatment (dogs only, sorry!). This is easy, convenient and means your pet will be protected for 12-months and can be done at your next visit. It can often be combined with other treatments, such as vaccinations or heartworm prevention.

What matters in preventative measures is:

They must be year-round, not just summer. Ticks can be active outside their peak times, and a gap in cover is where trouble starts.
They must be dosed properly and based on your pet’s current weight. Underdosing can be fatal.
You need to give the right product for the right species. For example, some dog tick products are toxic to cats, so never share between pets.
They must be given on time. A chew given a fortnight late is a fortnight unprotected, so always make sure you know when it’s coming up and can get organised.

It’s also worth noting that sadly no product kills a tick instantly, which is why the daily search still matters even on a well-covered dog or cat.

How to search your pet properly for paralysis ticks

We recommend you do it once a day, in good light, in the same order every time so you don't skip a spot. Use your fingertips, (not just your eyes) and keep in mind that you're feeling for a lump the size of a grain of rice or larger. Ticks like warm, moist, and protected areas.

Where to start your search:

Start at the nose and work back over the head
Inside and behind both ears, and the folds
Around the eyes, lips, and under the chin - check inside the lips too
Down the neck and chest, into the armpits
Along the back and belly
Between every toe and around paw pads - including the dew claw!
Under the tail, and around genital areas.
Make sure to check under collars! This is a favourite place for ticks to hide, and it is often missed by owners.

Most ticks are commonly found forward of the shoulders, but not all of them. Long-coated dogs need a slower search, and a clip over Summer makes it much easier to find them.

What to do if you find a paralysis tick

You need to safely remove it as soon as you can. Here’s how:

Don’t dab it with anything first, NO methylated spirits, kerosene or Vaseline - these do nothing to help, and just irritate the area.
Get hold of it as close to the skin as possible with a tick remover, your fingernails, or fine tweezers and pull it straight out — don't twist or squeeze the body.
Keep the tick in a sealed bag or container and bring your pet (and the tick) into us at Condamine Vets. Having the tick brought in with your pet helps us confirm the species, and keep watching your dog closely for at least 24 to 48 hours, because some signs can appear or worsen after removal of the tick.

When to see your vet:

If you can't get the tick off, don't fight it. Where possible, call us straight away, then bring your pet in as quickly as possible and we can remove it for you. We recommend having your local vets number and a 24-hour emergency number in your contact favourites - so you’re able to quickly call if theres an emergency.

What if I can’t remove the paralysis tick?

Always go straight to your local vet or 24-hour emergency vet if your dog or cat has any of these symptoms:

A wobble or weakness in the back legs, however mild
A changed bark or meow — hoarse, softer, or a different sound
Gagging, coughing, retching, or bringing up food or water
Noisy, heavy, or laboured breathing
Unable to stand — this is a true emergency, call ahead and come now

You should also call your vet for advice if:

You've found and removed a tick, even if your pet seems completely fine
You've found a tick you can't fully remove
Your pet has been to a coastal or bushy area in the last two weeks and seems off

What we see locally:

We are seeing more and more tick cases each year, predominantly dogs, but we always see a few cats as well. It used to be quite uncommon for us to see tick cases, especially originating from Warwick itself, but this has changed in recent years.

Many of our cases originate from Maryvale- it’s a real hotspot, likely due to the close proximity of the Main Range National Park. Toowoomba and Gatton are also very high risk, and we have many clients travelling back and forth, or to other areas such as Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, and the Gold Coast.

Bandicoots are the natural host of the paralysis tick, and will often spread them as they move around - so if you have these little guys in your area/backyard, then your pets could be at risk!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Bandicoots are the natural host of the paralysis tick, and will often spread them as they move around - so if you have these little guys in your area/backyard, then your pets could be at risk!

Written by Dr Dr Christine Stirling,

BVSc (Hons), MANZCVS, Owner and Veterinarian at Condamine Veterinary Clinic.

This article is general information only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice. If you're worried about your pet, call us or your nearest emergency vet.

Book an appointment with our team and we'll go through the important steps to help prevent your pet from contracting a paralysis tick.

Book online or call us on (07) 4667 1176

Not sure whether your dog's tick prevention is right?

Bird Flu: What Our Community Needs to Know

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 02:25:00 GMT

Please call before bringing any bird to us.

You may have heard more conversation lately about bird flu, or H5N1 . And while there’s no need to panic, it is something worth understanding, particularly for those of us living in communities where backyard chickens, pet birds, wildlife and other animals are part of everyday life.

Bird flu primarily affects birds, but it can also infect some mammals. Often, the first sign something isn’t right is simply an animal behaving differently. A bird may struggle to stand or fly, have difficulty breathing or suddenly stop laying. In some cases, birds may be found deceased without obvious warning.

The most important thing to remember is don’t touch a sick or deceased wild bird . Keep your pets and children away and report it to the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888 .

And if it’s one of your own birds that you’re worried about, give our team a call before bringing them into the clinic . We’ll talk you through what you’re seeing and help work out the safest next step.

A little awareness goes a long way in helping protect the animals, and people in our community.

Condamine Vets | (07) 4667 1176

Bird Flu FAQs

We understand you might have questions, we've put together a list of common questions below: