The paralysis will resolve in 2-3 days
Tea tree oil should be used in a diluted form. It's reported in the literature that a 10% solution is safe, and effective in chronic dermatitis and pruritus skin conditions in dogs (i.e. 70% success rate). It's also useful in alopecia (hair loss).
I used tea tree oil on my previous dog (1/2 Lab, 1/2 Golden) by applying a thin film on top of some antibiotic salve to deter licking of the salve. She gave it a short lick, and then gave me a dirty look. I have no idea what that thin film represented per what she ingested. As with all substances, the individual will have a different tolerance level to it. Some dogs are extremely sensitive to it, while others are not.
Also note the turpenes in tea tree oil can be absorbed through the skin. The dog does not have to lick or ingest it for the turpenes to get absorbed systemically. Tea tree oil especially in undiluted form can cause a burning sensation on open wounds. I wouldn't want to apply it even diluted to an open wound.
tea tree oil poisoning: Cocoa's better now!
Wow, what a roller coaster ride these last 4 days have been. Cocoa is 99% improved from Thursday night. He improved dramatically over the weekend. He slept A LOT, and each time he woke up he was doing better. This morning he bounded down the flight of stairs and raced outside to the yard to do his business. Over the weekend I massaged his body and legs twice a day and helped him drink enough water (he wouldn't drink any water Friday, so I sprayed water on his fur and he licked it off, by Saturday morning he was drinking out of a shallow bowl and Sunday back to normal). Each time after I massaged his legs he would stretch them. It seemed to really help him by getting the blood moving again.
The vet didn't tell me about vitamin K, she just said to let him rest (which he did a lot of!) and to get him to drink as much water as he could.
I hope my frightening experience can help others, either by understanding the potency of tea tree oil, or, God forbid, if someone else finds themselves in a similar situation.
Thanks for the support I got on this site too. You people are golden!