Category: Diseases

Ehrlichia and your Dog

30/3/2022

What is Ehrlichia?

Ehrlichia is a type of bacteria that infects the white blood cells of dogs. Ehrlichia is spread between dogs by the brown dog tick. There are several different types of Ehrlichia (named after the person who discovered it - Mr Ehrlich). The type we have in Australia is Ehrlichia canis..

Ehrlichia canis infections can be very severe and make some dogs very sick or even kill them. Ehrlichia canis particularly infects the cell called platelets that are involved in clotting. Additionally the disease causes an inflammatory storm around the body. Because they hide inside the blood cell, it can make it very hard to kill the bacteria.

Should I be concerned for my dog? What are the Symptoms?

Ehrlicihia is a very serious illness affecting the clotting factors, immune system and the kidneys of the dog. Without treatment, many dogs will die from this disease.

There are three stages to this disease and there is some cross-over between the three stages.

Early symptoms can include:

Inappetence (some dogs are off food for only a few days)
Weight loss (despite being fed normal to increased amounts)
Fever (in some cases)
Lethargy
Sore eyes
Cloudy eyes
Abdominal discomfort
Vomiting and/or Diarrhoea
Slight Cough
Sore Joints
Nothing at all

Subclinical / Carrier Phase

Your dog appears fine but has some changes in its blood that remains undetectable unless a complete blood count is run. These blood changes can make surgery risky.

End Stage (a few months to many years into the disease)

Kidney Failure
Shut Down of the Immune System
Death

The early and subclinical stage is generally easily treated, but the end stage disease can be very hard to treat.

How can I tell if my dog has Ehrlichia?

A simple blood test is all that is required to see if your dog has Ehrlichia. A complete blood count is performed and if there is indication of low clotting factors known as platelets, then there is a strong chance that your dog has Ehrlichia and treatment should be started. The blood sample will then be sent for confirmation at special labs.

Can Ehrlichia canis be Treated?

Yes. Ehrlichia can be treated in the early and subclinical stages with the antibiotic doxycycline. End stage disease can be very difficult or near impossible to treat. There however have been some new experimental treatments for the end stage disease and hopefully in the future we will have better options.

It is important that a full course of medication is given as if some bacteria is left behind, then the infection can recur

Can my dog catch it again?

Unfortunately yes. There has been cases where dogs have been re-infected. So prevention is really important

Can people catch this disease?

It is very unlikely for people to catch this disease. There have been no human cases in Australia or South East Asia of this strain.

Is there a vaccine for Ehrlichia?

There are no vaccines for Ehrlichia.

How do I prevent this disease?

Ehrlichia is quickly transmitted by ticks. It only takes as little as 3 hours of tick feeding for Ehrlichia to be transmitted from the tick to the dog. Additionally, recent evidence shows that Ehrlichia can be passed from the adult ticks to baby ticks, so once it is in an area, the ticks will continue to transmit this disease. Hence prevention is key to stopping this disease.

Primary preventative - It is important to use a product that repels ticks. Two products have shown to be extremely effective in preventing tick bites and Ehrlichia are SERESTO COLLARS and ADVANTIX SPOT ON. They are over 90% effective in preventing Ehrlichia

Secondary preventative - It is recommended that a back up treatment is used that kills the ticks. Products such as Bravecto and Nexgard are excellent products that kill the tick but take 5 to 24 hours to kill them. So these are not great as a primary product, as they are only about 70% effective. But when combined with a primary product, it reduces the risk of your dog contracting Ehrlichia even further.

How did it get here?

This disease came from overseas. In mid 2020, Ehrlichia was discovered in Kununurra, WA for the first time. Within a week of its discovery, through the work of our vets, it was found to be in Katherine and Central Australia. And within months, a true picture emerged showing it expanding throughout northern WA and the NT. We were able to look back at cases and believe it may have been around in 2018, but likely not prior to that. We now know we have the South East Asian strain of this disease and somehow it was introduced into Australia. The strain we have is particularly severe, but so far we have seen in the early stages that it can be treated.

Our clinics in Katherine and Alice Springs continue to investigate treatment options for this horrible disease.

Parvovirus Outbreak

20/6/2019

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Outbreak Warning - Alice Springs & Katherine

June 2019 - Recently at Northern Territory Veterinary Services in Katherine and Alice Springs, we have seen a large outbreak of canine parvoviral diarrhoea including deaths of some animals. We have seen several cases in the past week, and there would be many more that do not make it into the clinic. This is a tragedy, as this life threatening disease is easily prevented in most cases by simple vaccination.

Parvoviral infection must be considered as a possibility in any young dog with vomiting and/or diarrhoea, or any adult dog that is overdue for vaccination with similar symptoms. Please note the new viral strain 2c can infect dogs that have previously been vaccinated but are overdue. We urge all dog owners to get their animals vaccinated for this disease. Prevention is far better and cheaper than treatment for this horrible disease. Regular vaccination ensures that your dog is protected.

Additionally, it is possible for cats to contract the 2c strain, so we urge owners to ensure their cats are up to date with their vaccinations too.

Please note: Parvovirus poses no viral risk to humans, horses and livestock

Parvovirus can affect all puppies. Please Vaccinate

What is Parvovirus?

Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes life threatening bloody diarrhoea. In the majority of cases, the disease is frequently fatal if treatment is not sought. Parvovirus is one of the largest causes of severe illness and death for puppies and adolescent dogs in Australia.

Parvovirus attacks the rapidly dividing cells of the gut lining and immune system resulting in bloody diarrhoea and immunosuppression. The infected dog then becomes severely dehydrated through water loss and septic from bacterial superinfections. Parvoviral infection must be considered as a possibility in any young dog with vomiting and/or diarrhoea. It should also be noted that sometimes the dog may not show signs of vomiting or diarrhoea, and may just be inappetent and flat. If unsure, it is always better to have your dog checked as early treatment increases the chance of survival.

How is it spread?

The virus multiplies in the dog into the millions and is shed into the environment through the vomit and diarrhoea of the dog. Wherever the vomit and diarrhoea lies, the ground becomes contaminated. The virus can survive in the environment for up to 7 months, even after the vomit or diarrhoea has been cleaned away. Only bleach or special disinfectants can destroy the virus in the environment.

It is then, very easy for someone to walk through these areas and pick the virus on their shoes or clothing and spread it further. Dogs walking through these contaminated areas can pick it up on their feet and when they lick or clean their feet, they then can become infected with this virus.

How long is it between exposure to the virus and signs of infection?

It takes about 4 to 7 days from the time a dog is in contact with the virus to full signs of infection. Please note that during the first 4 days of incubation, dogs can still spread the virus.

Can Parvovirus infection be treated?

Fortunately, parvovirus in dogs is a treatable disease and if caught early, can be cured, especially with the advent of a number of new treatments, but this can be expensive. In our clinic, we have a greater than 95% success rate with intensive treatment, but the dog usually has to be hospitalised for several days for intensive care and requires multiple medications.

Home treatment for parvo infection is a bad idea when compared to hospitalisation and intensive care. The death rate rises substantially, and the profuse diarrhoea and vomiting will lead to heavy viral contamination in the home. Without proper treatment, a dog can become weak, septic and eventually will die.

What is special about the Parvovirus 2c infection?

This is a new strain of parvovirus that has been seen in Australia and is particularly nasty. Reports have indicated that adult dogs that have previously been vaccinated but are overdue have been infected. The vaccine companies have advised that each of their parvovirus vaccines do cover for this new strain. Regular vaccination will ensure that your dog is protected.

What can I do to disinfect the floors in my house?

Not many disinfectants will kill the virus, except for bleach and special disinfectants. If using bleach, mix 1 part bleach to 30 parts water and mop the floors. Allow 30 minutes contact time to ensure the virus has been destroyed.

Once better, will my dog be a carrier of parvovirus for life?

Once better, your dog will no longer be infected with the virus, but they should be considered contagious for approximately a month as they may have virus particles still on their fur and skin. They will no longer shed the virus. It should be noted that they will be protected for life against future infections with parvovirus, but it is still important to vaccinate your dog for other life threatening diseases.

I am worried about my house, is it safe to bring a new dog into my house or yard?

The virus can survive in the environment for up to 7 months. So if you are getting a new dog, and there has been no parvovirus in your yard for more than 7 months, it can be considered safe. However, you should still vaccinate your dog to ensure that they are protected, as virus can still be carried on your shoes and clothing if you were in contact with the virus elsewhere.

Dr Alex Burleigh BSc(Vet) BVSc

Dr Alex Burleigh is based in Katherine, NT at Katherine Veterinary Clinic, part of Northern Territory Veterinary Services. He is a part owner and one of the senior veterinarians at both Katherine Veterinary Clinic and Alice Veterinary Centre. Dr Alex Burleigh is a published author with works appearing in veterinary texts, scientific journals and online websites. He consults regularly at both practices.

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Hookworms - A Hidden Killer

27/3/2017

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Warning - Hookworm outbreak

At Northern Territory Veterinary Services, we are seeing many dogs in the NT getting sick from a relatively easily preventable illness. Pups are in particular danger of dying from this disease. What’s an even more concerning development is that we recently are seeing adult dogs succumbing to this horrible illness. What is it? Hookworms. Yes! Hookworms. There are several worms that can cause health problems but recently hookworms have been rearing their ugly heads. We have seen an unusual number of worm infested dogs, especially puppies. Regular worming is easy to forget but it is so important to keep your pets healthy, both in the young and old.

So what’s so unusual about this wet season? Well, we see a lot of these infections in the wet as the worms require water droplets to hatch out. So this wet season being particularly big and particularly long, we are seeing heavier burdens and greater number of animals affected.

What is hookworm?
The hookworm is a particularly nasty parasite (about 3mm long) that hooks onto the inside of the intestinal wall and sucks out a large amount of blood to feed. Puppies can become infected before birth, through the milk when feeding from their mum, or through the skin from the environment. This worm causes blood loss, weight loss, pain, failure to thrive and in severe cases, death. Unfortunately, hookworm infestation is usually first noticed when the pup is already very sick with very pale gums, lethargy or bloody diarrhoea. Adult dogs are more resistant but we do diagnose infections in them too, particularly when the environmental conditions are right. They can cause a more slow lingering illness in adult dogs.

Can I catch it?
Hookworm is transmissible to humans. Personal hygiene is always important;- wash your hands after handling your dog and definitely before eating, Hookworm larvae can also hatch out in the yard and then burrow through the skin and cause itching. Children are particularly at risk.

So how do we do we stop the cycle of infection?
Prevention is the best cure, and regular worming of all your dogs throughout their lives will help stop the vicious cycle of re-infection.
Puppies must be wormed from 2 weeks of age and every 2 weeks until they are 12 weeks old then every month until 6 months of age. From then on, worming every 3 months is adequate, unless otherwise advised. Talk to one of our veterinarians for further advice. Over time, with regular worming, your dogs can act as vacuum cleaners for the yard and clean up the environment.
Cats don’t get hookworm but they are at risk of other intestinal worms, and so they should have a regular worming routine as well. Luckily for those slightly less sociable puddytats, there are effective top spot all wormers available now from vets. Phew!

Treatment? Pop a pill – it’s that easy!
Always use a good quality broad spectrum wormer, and make certain the animal is weighed before dosing. Under-dosing is common. It not only increases the risk of worm resistance but can be a complete waste of money as the product won’t be effective. We recommend Drontal as the most effective intestinal wormer. You are more than welcome to bring your pet to our clinic for a weight check.

New dog? What to do…
When you pick up a new puppy make sure the breeder gives you information on when the puppy was wormed and what was used. If they cannot do this, it is best to assume the pup hasn’t been wormed. Any new dogs or pups should be wormed as soon as possible to avoid infecting your own yard with worms.

If in doubt, just ask
If you have a new puppy or are planning to breed, call into your local veterinary clinic and speak to the staff who can give you the correct advice on prevention and treatment of worms in your dog.

For further information, call us on 08 89723599 in Katherine or 08 89524353 in Alice Springs at Northern Territory Veterinary Services.

Dr Lauren Walter

Dr Lauren Walter is based in Katherine, NT at Katherine Veterinary Clinic, part of Northern Territory Veterinary Services. She is a senior veterinarian at Katherine Veterinary Clinic with over 20 years experience with a keen passion for medicine of Dogs, Cats and Rabbits. Dr Lauren Walter consults regularly at Katherine Veterinary Clinic.

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Rabbit Calicivirus - Alice Springs Warning

27/2/2017

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In Alice Springs, we are warning clients regarding the release of RHDV1 – K2, a new strain of rabbit calicivirus which is due to be released as a form of feral rabbit control throughout Australia in early March. There will be five sites around Alice Springs where it will be released. We are urging rabbit owners of Alice Springs to vaccinate their rabbits to reduce the risk of infection and death.

Currently for the first week of March, our clinic in Alice Springs is holding a vaccination amnesty where we are offering highly reduced rates for this vaccination.

What is RHD / Calicivirus?

Viral Haemorrhagic Disease of rabbits, also known as Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD) or Rabbit Calicivirus Disease (RCD) is a viral disease that affects rabbits only. RHDV was first identified in captive domestic rabbits in China in 1984, and subsequently spread throughout Asia, Africa, and Europe. In Australia in 1996, it was introduced as a natural form of rabbit control. It has been very effective in reducing populations, particularly in the first release. New strains are released regularly to control wild populations of rabbits.

In Australia, the majority of infections are from RHDV1. A new highly fatal strain of RHDV2 was recently discovered in Australia, but it has not been seen in Alice Springs yet. The Korean variant of RHDV1 is going to be released in March which whilst it is highly fatal, has been shown to be a preventable disease with vaccination.

How is RHD / Calicivirus transmitted?

RHDV is easily transmitted by direct contact with faeces, aerosols and secretions from infected rabbits. More importantly, whatever these secretions contaminate, it can easily aid in spread. So the virus can spread on clothing, cages and shoes. It can be found on grass cuttings, even flies can spread it.

What can I do to prevent the spread?

Prevent contact either direct or indirect with your rabbit and wild rabbits
Avoid feeding your rabbit grass cuttings from your garden or where rabbits have been
Wash your hands with warm soapy water before and between handling rabbits
Provide good insect control, even indoors. Using shade cloth on the hutch will help prevent flies from contacting your rabbit.
If using a litter tray, change regularly to reduce fly contact
Vaccinate

What are the signs of this disease?

The disease causes high mortality with death occurring suddenly in most instances. Animals of all ages can become infected, but the most serious infections are animals older than 5 to 7 weeks of age where there is the high likelihood of sudden death with no prior clinical signs. If signs are seen, it can include being off food, depressed, constipated or having diarrhoea. Some animals will progress to having weakness or seizures.

If my rabbit survives, will he/she still be contagious?

Rabbits that survive this disease may shed virus for 4 or more weeks after infection. Your rabbit should be considered contagious for all of this time if confirmed or suspected having this disease. However, please note that if the symptoms are severe, euthanasia is recommended.

What happens if my place becomes contaminated?

If an infected rabbit was housed in your place, it is important to remove the infected rabbit, disinfect the premises with 10% bleach or F10 disinfectant.

Can I vaccinate my rabbit for this disease?

Thankfully we have a vaccine that is effective for this disease. It is effective for the RHDV1 strains, but may have limited protection for the RHDV2 which currently is not in Alice Springs. The recommended vaccine schedule has changed which is different to what the manufacturers of the vaccine had set. For young rabbits, we now recommend vaccination at 4, 8 and 12 weeks of age and then every 6 months. For older rabbits, we recommend 2 vaccinations 1 month apart and then every 6 months.

Dr Alex Burleigh

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Ehrlichia and your Dog

What is Ehrlichia?

Should I be concerned for my dog? What are the Symptoms?

How can I tell if my dog has Ehrlichia?

Can Ehrlichia canis be Treated?

Can my dog catch it again?

Can people catch this disease?

Is there a vaccine for Ehrlichia?

How do I prevent this disease?

How did it get here?

Parvovirus Outbreak

Outbreak Warning - Alice Springs & Katherine

What is Parvovirus?

How is it spread?

How long is it between exposure to the virus and signs of infection?

Can Parvovirus infection be treated?

What is special about the Parvovirus 2c infection?

What can I do to disinfect the floors in my house?

Once better, will my dog be a carrier of parvovirus for life?

I am worried about my house, is it safe to bring a new dog into my house or yard?

Hookworms - A Hidden Killer

Warning - Hookworm outbreak

Dr Lauren Walter

Rabbit Calicivirus - Alice Springs Warning

NT Vet Services News

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