Miss T has just posted her newest Four Paws and Me — a terrific tail of a plucky Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who faced down hundreds of paralysis ticks!

Ever wondered what it’s like to live with an Airedale, Persian, Rag Doll or Zuchon? How about a shelter or stray cat? A special needs or designer dog? Ever wondered if you could survive a crisis with your pet — or what to watch for to prevent one? Miss T gives you the word from the trenches with the world’s best cat and dog column: “Four Paws and Me”.

A lot can change in 11 years. But for Catherine (14) and her mum Anne, Freddy the family’s Cavalier Spaniel has been their happy and huggy constant companion.

When and where did you first meet Freddy?
Catherine: Well, mum bought him home when I was only three, so to be honest; it’s all a bit blurry to me.
Anne: It was 11 years ago when my eldest daughter Frances, who’s now 22, asked for a dog. A good friend of mine had had a lot of dog experience, so I asked her for advice on what she thought would make a good “plug in and play” dog.

A Plug in and Play dog?
Anne: Yeees. (laughs) It probably helps to be in IT to know the term. But basically I wanted a dog that wouldn’t be too much of a fuss. You know, you plug it in, turn it on and off it goes! Not high maintenance. Anyway, my friend suggested the Cavalier Spaniel. I knew of a litter close by and while we were driving there I kept on saying, “Now, we’re just going to have a look. That’s all, just a bit of a look.” And of course I walked in the door, saw Freddy and immediately said “Oh! We’ll have him!”

He was so little! He fit into the crown of Francis’s school hat.

So what was so special about Freddy?
Anne: Well, we didn’t have much difficulty choosing. He was the only pup of the litter! And for whatever reason he had this very special aura about him. When we brought him home I thought it would be quite adequate for him to sleep in the laundry, but the girls would smuggle him into their beds and he’d get lots of cuddles!
Catherine: He grew up as my best mate. I’ve had him nearly my whole life. He’s always there. I like to cuddle him even when he’s sleeping. He’ll wake up and look cranky but I’ll hug him anyway.

What’s the most difficult time you’ve had to go through with him?
Catherine: Last year, Mum and my brother and his friends had been staying at a holiday house up in Mystery Baby (on the South Coast of NSW). When they got back, Freddy seemed a bit slow and tired. We just thought it was because he’d spent a long time in the car coming back. I mean, it’s a ten hour trip.

Anyway, the next morning I woke up and found out that they’d had to take Freddy to the Animal Hospital. He was in there for six days and in intensive care for five.

Anne: It was awful wasn’t it? Just awful!
Catherine: He’d gotten hundreds of baby paralysis ticks on him. We couldn’t see them. The vets had to bathe him four times a day and then they shaved him right down to his skin. He was bright pink!
Anne: He was completely paralysed and couldn’t blink or swallow for a whole 48 hours!
Catherine: And then when I went in to visit him he was a humidicrib! Just like you see the babies in. And I made him a card didn’t I mum?
Anne: That’s right you did!
Catherine: He was in a cage and so I slipped it into the railing. When I came back the next day he’ tried to eat it and there were all these little chewed bits out of the corners of the card.
Anne: It was so terrible, but he was a little trooper and he managed to pull through with flying colours!

What is it you love most about Freddy?
Catherine: He’s so happy. He never stops wagging his tail unless you start patting him and then he kind of goes into this blissed out trance. I feel happy when he’s happy.

My sister Frances lives in Ballarat and for a while Freddy went to stay with her, just to keep her company.

Anne: But the house fell into disarray. We really missed him.
Catherine: Yeah. When I get up he’s normally nosing about in the living room and when he was up in Ballarat it felt really weird and empty.

How would you describe Freddy’s personality?
Catherine: Relaxed and like I said before, happy. He normally sleeps all day and he barks all night.
Anne: What I love about him is that he goes to everybody like they’re going to love him. He always approaches any stranger with a great amount of confidence. It’s a great way to approach life, don’t you think?

From your own personal experience, what advice would you give to anyone with a pet like yours?
Catherine: A dog’s got to have a happy life. I mean, just don’t have a dog if you have a small apartment or you can’t walk them enough or you work a lot and so have to leave them by themselves too long in the backyard.
Anne: I completely agree. Similar to what Catherine says, I think that dog’s reflect the way that we treat them. What I’ve learnt is how very important the first period in a dog’s life is. They learn certain behaviours very early on; whether they’re going to learn how to trust or learn how to be fearful is very much dependent on what happens in those first initial years.

What does Freddy most like to do?
Catherine: Sleep.
Anne: Walk. And ride in the car! He LOVES that. You just have to say “C.A.R” and he’s off!

Favourite food?
Anne: I’m fairly fascist about what Freddy can and can’t eat. I believe that the trouble with indoor dogs is that they can tend to get fed a lot of human food. I personally believe that he recovered so well from the paralysis ticks because he was so healthy from getting fed a well balanced dog food diet. Of course, he acts like a right little vacuum cleaner in the kitchen though, and hoovers up anything left over on the floor!

Is there anything special that you do with your pet to add value to Freddy’s life?
Catherine: Well, the other day I bought him a new little jacket because he gets cold (laughs).
Anne: Oh it’s terrible!
Catherine: I bought him a coat when he got shaved. It’s kind of like a trench coat. He’s got four coats to keep him warm through winter.

What is absolutely amazing/gob smackingly important about your pet?
Catherine: Sometimes it looks like he does stupid things, but he’s not stupid. There are these little things he does that are actually really intelligent.
Anne: People come up and say “He’s a really stupid dog” — we hate those people instantly don’t we Catherine? But he’s just very discerning when it comes to making decisions, that’s all. It’s like he has this veneer of being an airhead, but he decides when he will and won’t obey us. He’ll obey us when he knows that there’s something in it for him. I mean, if we just want him to sit for the sake of sitting, he’s not going to do it, but if there’s food involved, sure thing. He’s not dumb!
Catherine: After having Freddy in my life, I think I’ll always have a dog from here on in.
Anne: He’s been the one constant in our life over the last 11 years. Lots of things have changed and come and gone, but Freddy’s totally reliable. We know he’s always there for us.

Catherine Parkhowell is currently studying Year Eight at a high school in Canterbury, Melbourne. She likes maths and textiles and spends her spare time reinventing her “My Space” site, chilling out to the Cat Empire, Modest Mouse and The Killers and enjoying a laugh with “the Might Boosh”. Every second Sunday Catherine puts in some hard yakka at a hardware store in North Fitzroy.

Anne Parkhill says she has managed to remain employed as a freelance information professional for the last twelve years by being useful to a range of clients from private and government organisations to academic and research institutions. Her company Aptly has contracted in content management, information design and evidence searching.

A Bit About Tick Paralysis in your Dog or Cat

Things you should know:

• It only takes one adult tick to cause paralysis and possible death in a dog or cat.
• Any tick found on your dog or cat (regardless of size or colour) may be significant and you should seek veterinary advice immediately. Baby ticks (nymphs) can cause paralysis if enough attach to your pet.
• Tick toxin is really potent and can cause problems in as little as 36 hours.
• Ticks are prevalent in bushy, coastal areas and mostly occur from Spring to Autumn. However, they can attach at any time of year, so be alert for tick paralysis signs.

What to look out for…

• Often the first signs are a bit wishy washy. Your pet might just look a bit tired and is “not itself”.
• Tick toxin causes paralysis which usually starts out as weakness and “wobbliness” in the hind legs.
• As the toxin spreads through the body it causes muscle weakness that extends gradually toward the head. Your pet might find it hard to stand, may start coughing, salivating, have a change in its bark/meow and will start vomiting.
• Death normally happens because they can no longer use the muscles of the chest wall and so aren’t able to breathe freely.
• The toxin also effects heart muscle function. Even after an animal has been successfully treated, the damage to the heart can cause ongoing problems which can cause heart failure later in its life.

How to prevent tick paralysis…

• Be aware that staying in coastal areas in summer increases the risk of your animal coming into contact with ticks.
• Clipping your dogs coat short during the summer time makes it easier to search for ticks
• Search your animal closely every day (especially in every skin fold and crease). Any tick should be carefully removed and brought to the vet with your pet for a check and identification.
• No product absolutely prevents ticks from attaching and causing paralysis, so regular searches are vital. However, it can be useful to use a product to help prevent tick attachment. These can include spot-on type products, baths and rinses and collars.
• Monitor your animal for any of the signs listed above.
• Seek advice from your veterinarian or vet nurses if you have any concerns about prevention of tick paralysis.