vet-n-pet DIRECT

Canine Ehrlichiosis is a potentially deadly disease affecting dogs which has only recently been discovered in Australia. It is widespread throughout the world but up until May 2020 Australia had been considered free from this dangerous blood borne disease. Ehrlichiosis is caused by the bacteria Ehrlichia canis and is transmitted through the bite of an infected Brown Dog Tick. At the moment the disease seems to be most prevalent in areas of Northern Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Infected ticks have also been found in the northern parts of South Australia. There are three phases of an Ehrlichiosis infection in dogs. Symptoms of the acute phase of the disease typically lasting for 2-4 weeks after infection and can be mild or severe. Symptoms include; u Lethargy u Fever u Reduced appetite u Weight loss u Enlarged lymph nodes u Anaemia u Bleeding from the nose, eyes, rectum u Bruising or hemorrhages under the skin After the initial acute phase, some dogs will manage to fight off the infection and others will enter the sub-clinical phase. During this phase they are no longer presenting with symptoms (or only very mild symptoms) but they will still have the bacteria present in their blood. These dogs remain as carriers of the disease, meaning a tick can bite them, contract the bacteria and then bite another dog, resulting in the spread of Ehrlichiosis. After the sub-clinical phase dogs can move into the clinical/chronic stage of the disease. This is when the previously mentioned symptoms usually become quite severe with additional multi-organ problems and this then often results in death. To contract the disease a dog must be bitten by an infected Brown Dog Tick, it will not spread from dog to dog. Therefore the best way to prevent your dog from contracting Ehrlichiosis is to ensure that they are on a suitable tick control program. The most effective method to protect your dog is to use a combination of products. Using tick repellent products, like Advantix or Seresto collars, is ideal to deter the ticks from getting on your dog. Use this in combination with a product that kills ticks if they bite your dog, like Bravecto, NexGard or Simparica. Whatever product you choose to use, make sure that it is effective against the Brown Dog Tick and that you are using it at the correct recommended interval for Brown Dog Tick protection. Early treatment and diagnosis of Ehrlichiosis is always best. If you do notice any symptoms of Ehrlichiosis and your dog could have possibly been bitten by a Brown Dog Tick please contact your veterinarian immediately. Ehrlichiosis is a notifiable disease in Australia which means if your dog contracts the disease it must be reported to the Emergency Animal Disease hotline on 1800 675 888. EHRLICHIOSIS Want to know more? Tune into the myPet Podcast! Resident Vet Dr Glenn and Aria from vet-n-pet DIRECT talk about how Ehrlichiosis was found in Australia and what this means for dog owners and veterinarians. They discuss the symptoms of Ehrlichiosis to be aware of and how this bacterial infection is treated by veterinarians. Tune in to learn everything you need to know about this new disease infecting Australian dogs. u Listen via iTunes, Stitcher or on our YouTube channel

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