DEADLY DOG DISEASE EHRLICHIOSIS SPREADS TO NORTH-WEST QUEENSLAND
Source: ABC News (Extract)
Posted: January 31, 2022
Veterinarians in north-west Queensland are concerned after the region recorded what is believed to be its first locally acquired case of ehrlichiosis.
The bacterial disease, spread through brown dog ticks, was first recorded in Australia in June 2020 and can be deadly to dogs if left untreated in its early stages.
Pet owners in Mount Isa are on high alert after the region’s first local case was reported last week.
“We suspect this is a locally acquired case as the dog has not travelled from the NT,” Mount Isa veterinarian Gillian Tenni said.
“That’s very concerning. It could mean that other dogs may be infected, and the bacteria is here to stay. And that’s what we’re worried about.”
It can take between one and three weeks for an infected dog to show symptoms, Dr Tenni said.
There are three phases of the disease with antibiotics used in certain stages for treatment.
“So, in the acute phase dogs show clinical signs. If dogs are treated early in this phase, they are more likely to survive with treatment.”
“Then there’s a phase where they may not show any symptoms and owners may think that their dog is getting better.
“That’s actually very dangerous, because it can lay dormant in their system and if it progresses to a chronic stage, where the disease has infected bone marrow, it’s deadly and no amount of treatment can help,” she said.
Fever, lethargy and uncontrollable bleeding
Ehrlichiosis attacks a dog’s immune system and can result in symptoms such as fever, corneal oedema (cloudy eyes), lethargy, enlarged lymph nodes, bleeding from the nose, under-skin bleeding and weight loss.
According to the Mount Isa Veterinary Surgery, the best prevention is a Seresto tick collar.
“Seresto tick collars work by killing the tick before it has a chance to bite and transmit the bacteria,” a social media post by the surgery read.
“Monthly Nexgard or three-monthly Bravecto are also recommended to be used in conjunction with the Seresto tick collar. These medications kill ticks once they have already bitten the dog and help prevent other dogs from becoming infected.
Ehrlichia is also a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transferred from animals to humans.
People cannot catch the bacteria directly from dogs but can be infected (although rare) by the bite of a diseased tick.