HOW TO PROTECT YOUR PET FROM FAST-SPREADING AND FATAL DOG DISEASE SPREAD BY TICKS

A deadly dog disease is spreading fast across Australia and experts say people need to act now to protect their pets.

Unlike COVID-19, it’s a disease that’s impossible to stop at state borders.

Hundreds of dogs in Australia have already reportedly died from the disease.

Spread by ticks, the parasite is normally limited to tropical areas but has already been detected in South Australia and WA as well as the Northern Territory.

It’s thought it will only be a matter of time before every dog in the country is at risk as the tick moves southwards and beyond regional areas.

‘Brown dog tick’

Called canine ehrlichiosis, the disease is transmitted through the bite of a bacterium-carrying parasite called “the brown dog tick.”

Its bite can be potentially fatal and it can also cause fever, lethargy, decreased appetite, and bleeding (such as nose bleeds).

Some dogs rapidly lose weight, have swollen limbs and sore joints, or have difficulty in breathing.

One of the most serious side effects is on the bone marrow, with many dogs dying of septicaemia because they cannot fight off infections.

“The worry with this particular bacteria is it can spread all across Australia,” vet Leigh Davidson told 7NEWS.

The first cases were detected in May last year, The Guardian reports.

Now, more than 300 dogs in WA and the Northern Territory have tested positive and cases are emerging in South Australia.

If your dog does develop canine ehrlichiosis, treatment with antibiotics is the first step.

What to do

While paralysis ticks are only found outside, the brown dog tick thrives in homes and kennels, meaning it can be easily spread.

Dog owners need to check their dogs regularly for ticks, be on full alert for symptoms and invest in a good flea collar. Dog owners should also make sure that kennels and sleeping areas are vacuumed every single day.