TICK toxin in the Far North is the deadliest in Queensland with fresh evidence revealing the  
region's pets are falling faster to the parasite than anywhere in the state.

A new study, which collected data from 42 vet clinics from Cairns to Victoria and involved 500 animals, has been released on the eve of the parasite's peak season.

University of Queensland veterinary science Prof Rick Atwell last night revealed the results of the year-long research at the Cairns Colonial Club.

Clinics from Cairns and Atherton contributed to the case study on tick toxicity.

Prof Atwell said tick toxicity in Cairns was deadlier than in the southern areas of the state, as the region racked up huge levels of pet deaths from the parasite.

"Ticks in Cairns differ to those in Mackay and Brisbane, there's a difference in DNA, they're very bad here," he said.

Mr Atwell could not say why Cairns had heightened levels of the toxin but believed every town in the state had ticks with different toxicity because of evolution.

Balaclava Veterinary Surgery principal vet Paul Matthews, who is a member of the national tick forum, said the clinic treated more than 700 animals a year affected by ticks. He also predicted more than 25 animals a week would require professional help during the peak season, starting this month until November.

"We've already had a bad tick season … we're expecting up to four or five a day in peak season," he said.

Jodie Austin, with the Tableland Veterinary Service Ravenshoe Clinic, said tick cases accounted for 20 appointments a week between the service's three clinics.

She also said dogs were being hooked up to oxygen machines and put to sleep for nearly a week in an effort to pull the canines out of tick paralysis.

Earlville Veterinary Surgery owner Owen Lavers said dogs and cats could die within an hour of a tick attack with about 5 per cent of cases being fatal.

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