National Dog
Tick Safety Guide
Ticks are one of the biggest region-by-region risks for Australian dogs. This guide covers how to identify, check for, and remove them — and how that risk shifts as you move around the country.
Australia's Tick Threat Map
Know what you're dealing with before you travel.
Tick Risk by Region
Select your destination to see how tick risk and prevention differ there.
Tropical North Tick Risk (QLD / NT)
Year-round activity — ticks don't have a fixed 'off-season' in the tropics, so check regardless of month
Daily tick searches after every outdoor session, especially in long grass
Heading south? Paralysis tick pressure is heavier on the East Coast — step up your checking frequency once you cross into NSW/SE QLD
Planning an interstate or regional trip? Use the National Dog Travel Checklist for the wider preparation list, including weather, wildlife hazards, first-aid gear and travel essentials.
The Three Pillars of Tick Safety
Every dog owner in Australia should know these three skills.
1. IDENTIFY
Not all ticks are dangerous. Learn to tell them apart.
- • Light brown body, uniform colour
- • All legs same colour as body
- • Flat, oval shape
- • Common but not life-threatening
- • Grey-blue body when engorged
- • Dark brown/black legs — key identifier
- • Legs grouped near the head
- • Life-threatening — causes progressive paralysis
2. LOCATE
73% of ticks are found from the shoulders forward. Focus your search here.
Tick Hotspots on Your Dog
Pro Method: Use your fingertips, not your eyes. Run them slowly through the coat against the grain. A tick feels like a small, firm bump.
3. REMOVE
Twist, don't squeeze. Squeezing injects more toxin.
Slide the Tick Twister under the tick
Get the fork as close to the skin as possible, straddling the tick's mouthparts.
Rotate 2–3 full turns
Twist steadily in one direction. Do NOT pull upward — let the twisting motion release the tick naturally.
Lift away & monitor
The tick will release intact. Keep it for identification. Monitor your dog for 24–72 hours for signs of wobbliness, vomiting, or laboured breathing.
⚠️ If your dog shows ANY signs of paralysis (wobbly gait, changed bark, difficulty swallowing), get to a vet IMMEDIATELY. Antivenom is time-critical.
Duncan & Max's Tick Safety Insight
"Wherever we're headed, the Tick Twister comes with us. Tick pressure looks different in every region, but the routine doesn't change: check daily, carry the right removal tool, and keep prevention current no matter which state we're in."