Dog tick disease: Warning as first case of deadly ehrlichiosis found in Victoria

Victorians are being urged to check their dogs for ticks, as the state records its first case of a potentially fatal bacterial disease.

Victorian dog owners are being urged to check their dogs for ticks, after the state recorded its first case of the bacterial disease carried by the parasites – ehrlichiosis.

A dog in Horsham has tested positive for the tick-borne bacterial disease ehrlichiosis – the first detection of the potentially fatal disease for an Australian-born dog in Victoria.

The dog came from the Northern Territory where the disease is well established.

Victoria’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Graeme Cooke urged all Victorian dog owners and veterinarians to be on the lookout for this new dog disease that is spread by brown dog ticks.

“When detected early, antibiotics may be used to treat the disease,” Dr Cooke said.

“Prevention is crucial as there is no vaccine for the disease. Protect your dogs from ehrlichiosis by regularly checking them for ticks, using effective tick control and seeking veterinary advice promptly if they become unwell.”

On rare occasions humans can become infected through the bite of an infected tick. Seek medical advice if you feel unwell after being exposed to ticks.

Ehrlichiosis disease, which is caused by a bacterium that is spread by the common brown tick, is already established in the Northern Territory, Western and South Australia, with suspected cases reported in Queensland.

The NT News reported earlier this month that local vets now regard the disease as endemic and is killing dogs across the Territory at an alarming rate, especially in the past few months.

NT Veterinary Services senior vet Alex Burleigh said he had seen hundreds of ehrlichiosis cases across his clinics in Katherine, Alice Springs and a number of remote communities in the past year.

“I’ve never seen a disease this devastating and that spreads so rapidly,” he said. “We do have other tick diseases here (in the NT), and they sometimes do kill dogs, but we haven’t had anything nearly as bad as what this one is. This is very different.”

Dr Cooke said dog owners should be particularly vigilant if they are taking their dogs out bush and travelling interstate.

“This is a notifiable disease in Victoria, which means it must be reported to the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888,” Dr Cooke said.

EHRLICHIOSIS SYMPTOMS IN DOGS

FEVER

LETHARGY

EYE changes (conjunctivitis, cloudy or red eyes)

ABNORMAL bleeding such as nosebleeds and bleeding under the skin, which can look like red patches, small spots or bruising swelling on the body and/or limbs.

Dog owners are being urged to regularly check their dogs for ticks, by regularly running their fingers through their dog’s coat, over their skin, feeling for abnormal bumps.

Agriculture Victoria urges dog owners to pay particular attention to the head, neck and ears, chest, between their toes and around their mouth and gums.

Also check areas where dogs are kept for ticks, which may hide in warmer areas in the house or building.

Anyone who finds a tick should put it in a clean resealable bag and take it to their local veterinarian to submit for identification.

Freeze the bag with the tick first if you cannot get to the vet immediately.

TICK PREVENTION AND CONTROL

Put a tick-control program in place for your dogs in consultation with your vet, particularly if you are travelling with your dog to high-risk areas.

Use products registered to control and/or kill ticks on your dog, specifically brown dog ticks which can spread ehrlichiosis, and follow instructions on the manufacturer’s label or as directed by your vet.

Use repellent tick collars and spot-ons as the best primary protection, in combination with tablets and chews registered for tick control.

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