Veterinary student finds tick that caused paralyzed dog's rare condition ONE MINUTE before the beloved pet, 10, was due to be euthanized

  • Ollie the Sheltie, ten, of Portland, became paralyzed after a camping trip
  • The cause was a mystery, so his owners agreed to have him put down 
  • However, a student vet found a tick behind his ear while comforting him 
  • Once it was removed, the dog made a full recovery 
  • Neurotoxins in the tick's saliva had caused 'tick paralysis' 
  • The vet performing the procedure said the condition was incredibly rare 

By James Wilkinson For Dailymail.com

Published: 14:55 EST, 24 May 2016 | Updated: 22:52 EST, 24 May 2016

A paralyzed dog who was ready to be put down was saved from death at the last minute when a visiting veterinary student discovered the tick that had caused his incredibly rare condition.

Ollie the Sheltie, of Portland, Oregon, had become increasingly lethargic and weak after going on a camping holiday - a condition that baffled his regular vet.

Blood tests and X-rays did nothing to explain the illness, and on May 4, after Ollie became fully paralyzed and unable to eat, his owners, Al and Joelle Meteney, agreed to put the ten-year-old dog down, according to ABC News.

Saved: Ollie the Sheltie, 10 (pictured at a check-up with, l-r, owner Al Meteney, vet student Neena Golden and vet Dr. Adam Stone) became paralyzed with a mysterious illness after a camping trip in late April

Saved: Ollie the Sheltie, 10 (pictured at a check-up with, l-r, owner Al Meteney, vet student Neena Golden and vet Dr. Adam Stone) became paralyzed with a mysterious illness after a camping trip in late April

Once bitten: Just one minute before Ollie was to be euthanized, Golden found a tick like the one pictured (A and B fully engorged; C shown before feeding) by Ollie's ear. Once it was removed, he made a full recovery

Once bitten: Just one minute before Ollie was to be euthanized, Golden found a tick like the one pictured (A and B fully engorged; C shown before feeding) by Ollie's ear. Once it was removed, he made a full recovery

The Meteneys took the ailing animal to DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital, rather than their usual vet, to be euthanized.

TICK PARALYSIS 

Tick paralysis is caused when an egg-laden female tick latches onto an animal for a prolonged period of time.

Neurotoxins in the parasite's saliva flow into the bloodstream of the host, causing a paralysis that begins in the legs and spreads quickly throughout the body.

It can be fatal, if left long enough, but removing the tick usually sees symptoms disappear.

Despite common belief, if a tick's head comes off while being removed, it will not cause more toxin to be injected - though it may cause irritation. Removed ticks should be kept for a vet or doctor to look at.

Symptoms can occur within two days, but usually occur after five-to-seven days, as an increased flow of neurotoxin occurs around this time.

The Rocky Mountain wood tick and American dog tick are usually associated with the illness in North America but some 43 types of ticks around the world are on record as causing it.

Most North American cases occur between April and June, and though it can affect humans, it is more common in animals.

It was there that Neena Golden, a veterinary student who was getting hands-on experience at the hospital, made the surprising discovery that saved the hapless hound's life.

As Ollie was just one minute away from death, Golden decided to comfort him by tickling him behind his ears - and that's where she found the tick that was causing his woes. 

Although Ollie had been wearing a tick collar during the trip, one of the parasites had still managed to latch onto him.

Neurotoxins in the insect's saliva then flowed into Ollie's bloodstream over the course of days, causing 'tick paralysis' - a potentially fatal illness. 

It's something that Dr. Adam Stone, who was overseeing the procedure, said is very rare.

'The doctor walked in and remembered that he heard about this in school,' Mr Meteney said. 

'He told me it was just one little thing, one slide, and they mentioned it and [that] it was rare, and that was it.

'He had never seen a case before in his career.'

The tick was removed, and Ollie was sent home - though not before his fur was shaved to make sure he didn't have any other ticks hidden away.

And now, Al says, the once-paralyzed pup is back on all four feet. 'He's bright-eyed, active, chasing the squirrels around,' he said. 

'He has a spring in his step that he hasn't had in quite a while.'

All better: Ollie's condition, 'tick paralysis,' was so rare that Dr. Stone said he'd only heard of it once, when he was a student. Now, the dog is back to happily chasing squirrels - much to the relief of Al and his wife Joelle

All better: Ollie's condition, 'tick paralysis,' was so rare that Dr. Stone said he'd only heard of it once, when he was a student. Now, the dog is back to happily chasing squirrels - much to the relief of Al and his wife Joelle

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