Aussies warned after dog owner's deadly discovery leads to $1,700 bill
An Aussie woman is warning other pet owners after an alleged misconception about tick treatment left her with a hefty $1,700 bill and fearing for her young dog's life. Rose, who lives on NSW's far south coast with her brother, was spending time with her two-year-old dog Boba Fett early one morning last week when she felt something unusual near his tail.
'I just happened to be cuddling him, and I noticed that near his tail at the base of his butt, there was a pretty hefty tick there,' she told Yahoo News Australia, comparing the insect's size to a 10 cent coin. 'It was quite engorged.'
Given that Boba Fett hadn't recently spent any time in dense bushland, Rose said she was puzzled as to how the 40kg labrador/staffy/blue heeler mix had crossed paths with the deadly paralysis tick.
'He was actually not showing any signs… the only thing that I noticed was that he wasn't jumping up on my bed, which he usually sleeps on with me, but that was the only thing that sort of made me feel like maybe he wasn't feeling his best,' the 33-year-old explained.
'He was still eating. He was still happy and playful and rolling over for tummy rubs and everything.'
Not long after Rose and her brother removed the tick, they noticed Boba Fett was drooling excessively and having difficulty standing up. The pair then rushed him to their local vet, who informed the siblings he was 'very much showing signs of paralysis'.
'I was quite confused because we do give him his NexGard Spectra,' Rose told Yahoo, claiming the vet informed her the tick treatment doesn't provide a full month's coverage in areas with a large number of the insects, 'especially for bigger dogs'.
Thankfully, after receiving a serum to counteract the toxin, Boba Fett was sent home to recover, but Rose says she's now struggling to pay the $1,700 vet bill, prompting her to create a GoFundMe page.
Paralysis ticks can be found in humid, coastal regions along Australia's east coast, with the population peaking from early spring to mid-summer. Larvae are found mostly in autumn and winter.
'Ticks can be found in a number of places,' Dr Charlie May, an emergency vet at SASH Western Sydney, told Yahoo. 'We can even bring ticks in on our clothes, which is why we recommend tick prevention for even indoor animals, because it's really hard to predict…we're getting ticks earlier and later in the season, so you have to be really careful.'
When a tick latches onto an animal, it releases a toxin that can lead to life-threatening paralysis. Early signs include weakness, struggling to walk around, vomiting, a change in breathing, or excessive drooling. If left untreated, the condition can quickly worsen, impairing breathing and resulting in death.
🐶 Family face $40k vet bill after dog ravaged by common garden threat
🐰 Warning over Easter treat that's as bad as chocolate for pets
🐱 Aussie pet owners warned of $1000 mistake: 'Act now'
Speaking to Yahoo about Boba Fett's close call, Dr Greg Little, Head of Regulatory Affairs for Boehringer Ingelheim Australia and New Zealand — the company that makes NexGard products — insisted that 'studies have demonstrated that NexGard SPECTRA effectively controls paralysis ticks for 5 weeks (35 days), ensuring a single monthly dose provides full monthly protection regardless of the duration of month (28, 30, or 31 days)'.
'It is not necessary, or recommended, for dogs to receive multiple treatments per month,' he said, adding that year-round use is recommended for all dogs living or travelling to paralysis tick regions.
'Effective protection is even more important in areas where there is a higher tick prevalence as the risk of exposure is greater, however the relative prevalence of ticks in an area does not impact the efficacy of the product.'
Dr Little said NexGard Spectra works not by repelling ticks, but by killing them after they have attached.
'As such, dead ticks may be found attached to treated dogs. The product is highly effective as it kills the vast majority of ticks before they inject enough toxin to cause signs of tick paralysis to develop, however, it only takes one tick to cause tick paralysis and no tick control product can prevent tick paralysis in 100% of cases.
'For this reason, the product label of all paralysis tick control products in Australia includes the recommendation for daily tick searches. This is supported by the Australian Paralysis Tick Advisory Panel.'
As well as searches, Dr Little said pet owners should be mindful that they're giving their pets the right dosage for their weight. 'The effectiveness of our products is of the utmost importance to us, and if any pet owner has had an experience where they found the product has not worked as intended we encourage them to contact our Customer Care team to report their experience,' he added.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
IBM all-time high, Universal Health falls, Topgolf Callaway rises
Market Domination co-host Yahoo Finance host Julie Hyman tracks today's top moving stocks and biggest market stories in this Market Minute. IBM (IBM) stock hit an all-time high and surpassed a $250 billion market cap. Universal Health Services (UHS) stock is under pressure after the company presented at the Goldman Sachs Global Healthcare Conference. Topgolf Callaway (MODG) stock is surging after a board member purchased $2.5 million in shares last week. Stay up to date on the latest market action, minute-by-minute, with Yahoo Finance's Market Minute. It's time for Yahoo! Finance's market minute. Shares of IBM hitting all-time highs on Monday. The stock also surpassing a market cap of $250 billion for the first time in the company's history. That move in the stock coming amid recent acquisitions, helping the company enter the high-growth software and services space. Universal Health Services under pressure following its presentation at the Goldman Sachs Global Healthcare Conference. The company's CFO, Steve Filton, saying labor shortages have impacted staffing and subacute facilities, according to Bloomberg. Filton also noted that the length of stay for patients is still higher than pre-COVID levels. Shares of Topgolf Callaway Brands surging in today's session, a securities filing showing that a board member purchased about $2.5 million worth of shares last week. The purchase signaling a boost of confidence in the tech-enabled golf company. And that's your Yahoo! Finance market minute. For more on what's trending on Yahoo! Finance, scan the QR code below. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Israeli bombing in Gaza ‘worse than ever': UK doctor after latest mission
On a typical day at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, Victoria Rose, a British surgeon, would wake up before dawn. 'Because the bombing would start at four,' she said, now back in London, having just wrapped up her third humanitarian mission to Gaza since Israel's war began in October 2023. Over almost four weeks in May, she usually operated on 12 or 13 patients per 14-hour shift, unless there was a mass casualty incident overnight, meaning even longer shifts and more patients. By comparison, in London hospitals, she treats a maximum of three patients per day. 'It's operating nonstop in Gaza,' she said. Recalling some of her many patients, she treated 11-year-old Adam al-Najjar, the sole surviving child of Dr Alaa al-Najjar, whose nine other children and husband, Hamdi, also a doctor, were killed in an attack in Khan Younis last month. She vividly remembers two brothers with lower limb injuries, Yakoob and Mohammed, who were the sole survivors of their family, and an eight-year-old girl named Aziza who was orphaned. 'She had a burn on her face and her shoulder, and somebody found her walking the streets and brought her in,' said Rose, who specialises in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Rose and a team of medics also worked tirelessly to save the leg of a seven-year-old girl who, after an explosion, 'was missing her knee … it was like looking at the back of her leg without the bone in'. Having cleaned the area, removed dead skin and muscle, and dressed the wound, the girl returned three more times for further treatment, but ultimately, her limb was amputated. Al Jazeera spoke with Dr Rose about the growing intensity of Israeli bombardment, the impact of malnutrition which has been exacerbated by a three-month aid blockade, deaths and gunshot wounds she saw among those who desperately tried to get rations via a new mechanism backed by the United States and Israel, and her sense of frustration that as the death toll rises and the scale of injuries is well documented, disbelief in Palestinian suffering prevails. Al Jazeera: How did you feel entering Gaza this time around? Victoria Rose: Definitely once we got in, the bombing was far worse than it's ever been, and it was far, far louder, closer, more constant than it's ever been. The drones – it was as if they were on me. They were constantly there and really loud to the point that it was difficult to have a conversation if you were outside. Al Jazeera: What do the types of injuries you saw reveal about the current intensity of the bombing? Rose: This time, the injuries seemed to be from the heart of an explosion. People had been blown up, and bits of them had been blown off. Last summer, it was far more shrapnel wounds – a bomb had gone off in the vicinity, and something had been whipped up and then it ejected at them in a missile-type fashion and hit them and done some damage to their bodies. Much more survivable, reconstructable-type injuries, whereas these appeared to be far more direct hits on people. Al Jazeera: You have volunteered three times during the genocide, including in March and August last year. The death toll, now at about 55,000, continues to rise at haste. Was this the most challenging trip? Rose: This is, without a shadow of a doubt, the worst. The volume of patients is more and the kids are more. The number of kids has gone up exponentially. They've doubled since the March (2024) trip – the number of children that I've seen. During the first trip (in March 2024), I thought I was seeing loads of children, but this trip surpassed that. Al Jazeera: How would you describe Nasser Hospital? Rose: It's a very similar scenario, very similar vibe to being in a hospital anywhere, but it's just so packed. It's everybody; it's like the whole population is in there. (Doctors are usually) very selective with the people that we hospitalise. They're normally older, or got cancer, or complications from diabetes or heart attacks – that's normally who gets hospital beds in the UK. But there, it could be everybody on your road. It's just normal people that have been blown up. Healthy people that are otherwise really fit and well, and now have been blown up. It's quite bizarre to hospitalise somebody that was fit yesterday and, well, now is missing an arm or part of an arm. Al Jazeera: You were in Gaza when people desperately trying to secure food aid through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a new mechanism backed by Israel and the US, were attacked. Many were killed. You did some media interviews at the time. What did you witness and experience? Rose: The bulk of the victims had gunshot wounds. They were shot in the stomach, shot in the leg, shot in the arm. After the GHF shooting, when (the victims) all came in, immediately the next journalist (I spoke to) was saying to me that 'Israel has denied that they've shot anyone and you know, they're saying that it's the Palestinians shooting each other'. And then they sort of said, 'Nobody's been killed', and I was standing in the emergency department with 30 body bags, thinking, you can't lie like this. You just can't. Al Jazeera: Many in Gaza are vulnerable to starvation, and thousands of children are suffering from acute malnutrition, according to the United Nations. How does this affect patients and hospital staff? Rose: Everybody's lost weight. They will tell you, 'I am now five or 10 kg lower in weight.' My medical students I was there with in August, the girls are just so thin now. They're all in their 20s, and all of them looked really as if they'd lost significant amounts of weight. But the children are really small. They're really skinny. Sixty children have died at Nasser Hospital of malnutrition. It is mainly the children that are lactose intolerant or have some other disease as well, because none of the only formula milk that's getting in is suitable for children with lactose intolerance. Then you have children that have other diseases on top of that, which stop them from being able to take normal milk. That was quite shocking. The trauma patients, which is who I was seeing, were also really small. No fat on them at all, quite a bit of muscle wasting. And they didn't really heal very well. It seemed to take a lot longer this time than it did in August for wounds to heal. There were lots of infections, a huge number of infections; with malnutrition, you get a dampening of the immune system. It's one of the areas that's affected the most. You can't mount a good immune response. On top of that, all the wounds were dirty anyway because everyone's living in a tent and there's no sanitation, no clean water. You're starting in a really difficult position, and then you've run out of antibiotics. We only had three types of antibiotics that we could use, and none of them would have been the first-line choice if we'd have been in the UK. Al Jazeera: How would you describe the morale among the doctors you worked with? Rose: Really bad now. So many of them said to me, 'I'd rather die than carry on.' So many of them want a ceasefire, and I think would be prepared to do whatever it takes to get a ceasefire now. They are at their lowest. They've all moved 15 times. They've all lost significant members of the family – these guys have lost kids. Their houses are completely destroyed. It's really, really difficult times for them. Al Jazeera: What are your fears for Gaza? Rose: It's a man-made humanitarian crisis, so it could be man-stopped, and that's what needs to happen. This could be turned off immediately if people put enough pressure on the right governments, the right leaders. I think, if we don't turn it off soon, there won't be a Gaza and there certainly won't be Palestinians in Gaza. It's very difficult to have any conversations with Palestinians about the future because they can't really see it. Note: This interview was lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Freeze your cherries, eat a cup of beans daily and try this hack to fall asleep fast — plus 9 more health tips to help you have a great week
Hello, Yahoo readers! My name is Kaitlin Reilly, and I'm here to share the best health and wellness tips from around the internet. Much has been said about our society's addiction to smartphones and social media, which has been linked to mental health issues, shortened attention spans and even disrupted sleep. An artist recently created a 'methaphone,' a piece of acrylic shaped like an iPhone, in order to help people be more thoughtful about their habits. Meanwhile, some members of Gen Z are eschewing smartphones entirely by practicing 'appstinence' and spending more time in the real world. And speaking of spending time in the real world: This week, Yahoo Reporter Kerry Justich tried Steppin, an app that encourages users to spend more time strolling (and less time scrolling) by making them earn one minute of social media time for every 100 steps they take. She says it's a game changer for avoiding doomscrolling. 'My earned time resets at midnight, which means I wake up to 0 minutes earned and can't start my day scrolling,' Justich writes, noting that using the app gave her more time to 'focus on what's ahead and approach my day more mindfully.' It also helped her resist the quick dopamine hits that 'otherwise keep me reaching for my phone throughout the rest of the day.' Bonus: Because you have to get steps in to access social media, this approach cuts down sedentary time. Sitting for long stretches of time has been linked to negative health outcomes. But you don't need an app to move more — just try going for a walk without your phone. Ready to start this week off right? Take a look at the local weather forecast and peruse your horoscope if you're so inclined. Then check out what small steps you can take to make the week ahead a good one. Cherries are in season — but they won't be for long. Grab an extra bag at the supermarket to pop in your freezer to enjoy later, dietitian Natalie Rizzo tells our friends at Today. These health benefits are worth getting year-round: Cherries are rich in vitamin C and anthocyanins, which offer immune support and protection against chronic diseases. Plus, they're excellent for reducing inflammation, making them a good choice for a post-workout smoothie. Simply throw a cup of frozen cherries in a blender with a splash of milk and a spoonful of almond butter (healthy fats!) for a drink that's a twist on the classic PB&J. Beans are budget-friendly and full of protein and fiber. Now, a new study from the Illinois Institute of Technology finds that eating a cup of beans a day can offer important benefits. Over 12 weeks, participants who ate chickpeas saw a drop in cholesterol, while those who ate black beans had reduced inflammation; these are both key risk factors for heart disease and diabetes. Scoop some with whole-grain tortilla chips, add them to a salad or include them in a bowl with rice and chicken for an easy dinner. Or get creative and make this viral chickpea cookie dough recipe for some sweetness. So many people struggle with insomnia. If you're one of them, this viral sleep hack — which resurfaced on social media after initially gaining attention in the 1981 book Relax and Win: Championship Performance — might help. You start by relaxing your body piece by piece, beginning with your forehead and moving down to your toes, while taking slow, deep breaths. Then, clear your mind by imagining calming scenes (like lying in a hammock or napping on the beach). If you're plagued by intrusive thoughts, repeat the phrase 'don't think' for 10 seconds to send them away. Eventually you should doze off, though it may take some practice over weeks in order to really train your body to respond. One key thing needed to fall asleep, sleep specialist Dr. Sanjiv Kothare tells Today, is to make sure you're going to bed only when you're actually tired. If you're wide awake and trying to snooze, you'll frustrate yourself and wind up staying awake longer than you should. 'Get out of bed, go to a different area, read a book in dim light — do something boring, come back to bed,' he advises. 'In 20 minutes, do it again and keep doing it back and forth until you fall asleep.' Want to protect your brain health? Consider the MIND diet. As NBC News reports, researchers from the University of Hawaii and the University of Southern California found that following this eating plan — which focuses on brain-healthy foods like leafy greens, berries, nuts, whole grains, olive oil and fish and limits red meat, cheese, fried foods and sweets — could lower people's risk of developing dementia, with those who upped their adherence to the diet over 10 years seeing a 25% lower risk. One easy way to start is to get into leafy greens; the diet suggests six or more servings per week. Instead of relying on spinach, switch it up by getting kale, Swiss chard, collard greens or bok choy instead. Trying to stop scarfing down your food? It's time to spice up your life. A study from Penn State found that adding a little spice to your meal — just enough to feel a slight 'oral burn' from ingredients like chili peppers — can help you eat less without sacrificing flavor or satisfaction. In experiments using spicy vs. mild versions of dishes like chili and tikka masala, participants who ate the spicier meals consumed fewer calories. Researchers say this slower eating pace helps your body better recognize when it's full, meaning you'll be more satisfied with your meal while consuming less food overall. So, if you can handle the heat, toss some chili peppers, hot paprika or crushed red pepper flakes into your next dish. McDonald's is bringing back its popular Snack Wrap this July, according to CBS News. While there's no harm in hitting the drive-through every once in a while, you can also whip up a healthier version at home. The classic wrap includes a crispy chicken strip, cheddar jack cheese, lettuce and a creamy ranch or honey mustard sauce in a soft tortilla. For a better-for-you take, swap in a whole wheat tortilla for more fiber, grilled chicken breast instead of the fried version and a tangy Greek yogurt-based sauce in place of the heavier dressing. Pile on extra veggies like tomatoes and shredded carrots for a boost of vitamins and fiber. While it's vital to drink water to keep your body functioning properly, you probably need extra hydration on super-hot days or during extreme exercise. That said, traditional sports drinks often come loaded with sugar. One solution, per EatingWell, is to drink unsweetened coconut water. You'll cut back on calories and sugar while still getting all-important electrolytes like potassium and magnesium. Dietitians also point out that unsweetened coconut water is a good option for people with diabetes, as staying hydrated can keep blood glucose levels balanced. Nicer weather means taking your exercise outdoors. One great way to do that is by biking. As USA Today explains, cycling, which is considered a moderate-intensity activity, gets your heart pumping, lowers blood pressure and cuts your risk of heart disease while also keeping blood sugar and cholesterol in check. Studies also show it can help you maintain a healthy weight. If you live in a bikeable neighborhood, consider running basic errands by bike rather than car. You'll save gas (win for your wallet and the environment) while also sneaking in some extra exercise. A study published in Nature Food found that eating a wide variety of flavonoid-rich foods — like tea, berries, apples, oranges, dark chocolate and even red wine — may lower your risk of chronic illnesses like heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer. Since different flavonoids have different benefits for the body, the key to ideal health is making sure you consume as many different kinds as possible rather than, say, just loading up on tea. So, add some blueberries to your oatmeal in the morning, snack on an orange and have a square of dark chocolate after dinner. It's OK to feel angry sometimes. But if you find yourself bubbling with rage at inopportune moments, there are ways to redirect. Ethan Kross, a professor of psychology, tells USA Today that while there are "no one-size-fits-all solutions when it comes to managing anger," there are some 'tools' you can use to cope. That includes shifting gears when you feel angry. Before reacting, take a beat and do something distracting, like splashing cold water on your face, stepping outside or counting down from 10. When you return, your anger will likely have simmered down. If you find yourself dealing with bouts of anger frequently, however, it's time to look at what might really be troubling you, be it a lack of sleep or work stress. A doctor can help direct you toward next steps. If you're headed out on a summer trip, try this viral packing hack shared by Yahoo Creator Alesandra Dubin. It's super-simple: Next time you're considering what you should put in your suitcase, pick up three tops, three bottoms and three pairs of shoes. You can mix and match these items to create up to 27 different outfit combinations, meaning you'll always feel fresh and stylish while staying under your airline's weight limit. The key, of course, is to make sure these items go well together while still having enough versatility for your trip's needs. For example, instead of packing three pairs of sneakers, you could throw in a dressier option in case you're out to a nice dinner. And don't forget to consider color: While you don't have to go with a neutral palette, choosing a color scheme will make picking out vacay outfits easier. Adore your morning cup of joe? It might have longevity benefits, according to a study from the University of Toronto. As CNN reports, researchers discovered that women in their 50s who drank one to three cups of caffeinated coffee per day were more likely to reach older age in good cognitive, physical and mental health and without any major chronic diseases. Meanwhile, caffeinated beverages like soda and tea — and even decaffeinated coffee — didn't have the same results, suggesting that caffeine-packed coffee in particular has special properties connected to longevity. While the study does not suggest people who aren't already coffee drinkers pick up the habit, it's clear that regular consumers are on the right track. Just keep in mind how caffeine affects your sleep, anxiety levels and digestion.
