Tick season has arrived and brought a new deadly disease

A rare tick disease causing spontaneous bleeding and neurological symptoms has been detected in the Far North for the first time.

A rare tick disease causing spontaneous bleeding and neurological symptoms has been detected in the Far North for the first time.

Ulysses Veterinary Clinic in Stratford treated its first ever case of ehrlichiosis this tick season.

Ehrlichiosis is carried by the brown dog tick and can cause fever, pain and stiffness, spontaneous bleeding, neurological decline and even death in dogs if left untreated.

The disease was previously only found in the dry climates of the Northern Territory and the Kimberley region of Western Australia but has recently made its way to Far North Queensland.

Ulysses’ patient was young pup Koda who travelled to Cairns from Mornington Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria and presented to the clinic with unusual neurological signs.

Clinic owner and senior veterinarian Dr Demian Bullock, 47, said, unlike tick paralysis, ehrlichiosis could pass to dogs almost immediately.

“With this case, we don’t want ticks to attach at all,” he said.

“Brown dog ticks can potentially transmit the infection from the moment they bite.”

Rhipicephalus sanguineus or commonly known as the 'brown dog tick' can carry dangerous diseases for dogs. Picture: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development WA.

Koda’s case was picked up early by his owners and he has since made a full recovery.

Dr Bullock said he had not seen a case originate in Cairns, but was monitoring the occurrence of the disease locally very closely.

“Prevalence in wetter climates is somewhat lower, than drier climates,” he said.

“We just don’t know because we are a different climate but there’s a reasonable chance it could arrive in the next 12-18 months.

“It will always be a risky thing, especially for dogs that travel west and up to the Cape.

“Whether it becomes a permanent feature (of Cairns), we have to wait and see.”

He advised dog owners who were worried about their pups to use a flea and tick collar when in dry areas known to host brown dog ticks.

Brown dog ticks are found in dry climates such as The Tablelands and The Cape and could come to Cairns in the next 12-18 months.

Dr Bullock added for residents of tropical climates, such as Cairns, paralysis ticks, not ehrlichiosis are still the biggest concern.

“Paralysis ticks remain the big issue for Cairns with our wet climate.”

“If a dog comes in these days for tick case it can be upwards of $1000 to $10,000 for intensive care.”

“And a lot of them don’t pull through, it’s got a high mortality rate.”

The veterinarian said the theory that dogs could become immune to tick bites was not that simple.

“You wouldn’t rely on that,” he said, clarifying dogs could technically become temporarily immune but must be around ticks from larvae stage all the way to adulthood before that would come into effect.

“The more they are indoors, the less likely they are to be around ticks at every stage.”

There are about 25,000 registered dogs in Cairns — which with the city’s human population of around 155,500 people that’s one dog for every six people.

Originally published as Tick season has arrived and brought a new deadly disease