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. 

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

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. 

There are no vaccines for Ehrlichia. 

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. 

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.

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

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.

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.

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. ​

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.

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, 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.

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

What Happens if the Cruciate Rupture is Not Surgically Repaired

Without an intact cruciate ligament, the knee becomes unstable, leading to abnormal wear on the bones and meniscal cartilage. Over time, the joint undergoes degenerative changes, with bone spurs (osteophytes) forming, causing chronic pain and reduced mobility. While surgery can help stabilize the joint and slow this progression, it cannot reverse the damage already done.

• In some patients, osteophytes can begin forming as early as one to three weeks after a cruciate ligament rupture. While all dogs will eventually develop degenerative joint changes, large-breed dogs tend to struggle more with the condition. Initially, a dog may seem to improve after several weeks, but full, long-term recovery back to normal function without intervention is unlikely.
  
• A study followed a group of dogs for six months after a cruciate ligament rupture. By the end of the study, 85% of dogs weighing less than 15 kg had regained near-normal or improved function. In contrast, only 19% of dogs over 15 kg achieved similar recovery. Regardless of size, both groups required at least four months to reach their maximum level of improvement.

What Happens in Surgical Repair?

There are three different surgical repair techniques commonly used today.

Extracapsular Repair

This procedure is the traditional surgical approach for repairing a cruciate rupture. It involves creating an artificial ligament on the outside of the joint. While this was once the primary method of repair, it is now understood that, regardless of the material used, the artificial ligament begins to loosen within two months.

In this procedure, the first step is to open and inspect the knee joint—an essential part of any knee surgery. The torn or partially torn cruciate ligament is then removed, and any significant bone spurs are trimmed using a specialized instrument called a rongeur. If the meniscus is damaged, the affected portion is excised. To stabilize the joint, a strong suture is looped around the fabella behind the knee and threaded through a hole drilled in the front of the tibia. This tightens the joint, preventing the abnormal drawer motion and effectively taking over the function of the cruciate ligament.

• After surgery, the dog may keep the leg lifted for about two weeks. However, knee usage gradually increases over the following two months, with most dogs eventually returning to normal function..

• After surgery, the dog typically requires 8 to 12 weeks of restricted exercise, including no running and only being taken outside on a leash, even in the backyard.
  

• The suture used in surgery will gradually loosen and break within 2 to 12 months, at which point the dog's own healed tissue will support the knee.

Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO)
This procedure takes a fresh approach to knee joint biomechanics and was initially designed for larger breed dogs. However, it is now recognized as the preferred surgical option for both large and small breeds. Compared to extracapsular repair and TTA, this is the only procedure that significantly slows the progression of arthritis in most dogs.
This procedure alters the angle at which the femur applies weight to the flat "plateau" of the tibia. By cutting and rotating the tibia, the dog's natural weight-bearing forces help stabilize the knee joint. As with other knee surgeries, the joint must be opened, and any damaged meniscus removed. The remnants of the cruciate ligament may be left intact or removed, depending on the extent of the damage.
This surgery is complex and requires specialized training in the technique. Multiple radiographs are needed to accurately calculate the osteotomy angle (the cut in the tibia). While this procedure is more invasive than extracapsular repair and typically more expensive, it offers significantly superior results.

• Most dogs typically begin touching their toes to the ground within 10 days after surgery, though in some cases, it may take up to three weeks.
• As with other surgical techniques, exercise must be restricted for 8 to 12 weeks.
• Most dogs regain full function within 3 to 4 months after surgery and can gradually return to normal activity.
• Athletic dogs experience the best outcomes with this surgery.

Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA)
The TTA (Tibial Tuberosity Advancement) procedure also utilizes knee biomechanics to enhance stability but does so by altering the angle of the patellar ligament. This is achieved by cutting and repositioning the tibial crest, where the patellar ligament attaches, and securing it with a titanium or steel "cage," "fork," and plate, along with bone grafts to maintain the new alignment. Like the TPLO, this procedure involves cutting bone and requires specialized equipment, including metal implant plates. Recovery is similar to that of the TPLO, but the TTA does not slow the progression of arthritis as effectively.

Which Procedure is Better?

​The TTA and TPLO procedures are more invasive, costly, and require specialized equipment and trained personnel. They also carry a higher risk of complications. Are they worth it? Despite the differences in surgical approach, studies suggest that one-year post-operative outcomes are similar across all three procedures—extracapsular repair, TPLO, and TTA. However, arthritis progresses much more rapidly with the extracapsular technique and TTA compared to TPLO. In the long run, joint health is significantly better with TPLO, and some evidence suggests that dogs may return to normal function more quickly with this procedure.

How is the TPLO performed?
​

Q: Does My Dog Really Need Surgery?  I Read That They’ll Do Just Fine Without Surgery.

A: Published studies indicate that about 15% of dogs can regain reasonably good clinical function without surgery, with most of these cases being small breeds weighing under 7 to 10 kg. Dogs that do recover normal function typically do so within 4 to 6 weeks after the initial onset of lameness. However, for the majority of dogs, surgery is the only reliable way to restore proper function—braces, medications, herbs, physical therapy, or simply hoping for improvement are not effective alternatives.

Q: Which Patients Will Benefit From TPLO?

A: Although TPLO can be performed on almost any patient, including small dogs and cats, it is particularly beneficial for larger, active breeds. While opinions among surgeons may vary, most agree that smaller dogs tend to have similar outcomes regardless of the surgical technique used. In general, dogs weighing over 20 kg (45 pounds), especially those with high activity levels, experience the greatest benefits from TPLO.

Q: Why Is TPLO So Costly, Especially When Compared To Other Cruciate Repair Surgeries?

A: TPLO requires specialized equipment, including a motorized bone saw with a uniquely designed curved blade, a stainless steel bone plate, and 6 to 9 bone screws. The procedure also involves taking 4 to 6 X-rays and demands extensive training for the surgeon. Each surgery requires a significant time investment, with preparation, operation, and recovery taking approximately 2 to 4 hours per patient.

Q: What Aftercare Is Required?

A: Surgeons take different approaches to post-operative care, and there is no definitive evidence to determine the best method. Some recommend strict rest, limiting stair climbing, and kenneling when unsupervised. Others encourage controlled leash walks and moderate exercise, while some advocate for immediate post-surgical physical rehabilitation. Regardless of the approach, follow-up X-rays are necessary at various stages to monitor bone healing. Once the bone has fully healed, exercise can be gradually increased to normal levels.

Q: What About Possible Complications?

A: TPLO is a major surgical procedure, and complications can occur. Research suggests that complication rates may be slightly higher than with less invasive surgeries, though factors such as patient characteristics and surgeon experience also play a role. Most complications are minor and can be managed without additional surgery, leading to successful outcomes. These include issues like infections and patellar tendon inflammation.
More serious complications, such as plate or screw failure and fractures of the tibia or fibula, are uncommon. There have also been rare cases of bone cancer developing months or years after surgery in the operated area. However, the connection between TPLO and bone cancer remains controversial, as the upper tibia is a common site for this cancer in dogs, even in those without prior surgery or cruciate issues. Whether TPLO increases this risk is unclear.
One of the most frequent post-operative complications is not directly related to TPLO itself. Meniscal cartilage tears are a common consequence of an unstable joint and may be present at the time of surgery or develop later. Up to 11% of dogs experience new meniscal tears post-surgery, similar to rates seen in humans undergoing knee surgery. These dogs often recover well after surgery but may suddenly become lame again weeks or months later due to a meniscal tear.
​
Q: Is TPLO Really Better Than Other Surgical Options?
​
A: If your dog is large, young, and active, the answer is likely yes—TPLO is the best option. However, the supporting research has not always been conclusive. For the first 20 to 25 years after TPLO was developed, surgeons observed significantly better outcomes in large dogs compared to other surgical techniques. Yet, early research data didn’t seem to confirm these findings.One major factor was Dr. Barclay Slocum’s decision to patent the TPLO technique and equipment, which limited access to the procedure and subsequently restricted research opportunities. Additionally, veterinary research is inherently more limited in scope compared to human medicine. While studies in the New England Journal of Medicine often involve tens or even hundreds of thousands of human patients, veterinary studies are typically much smaller—considering a study with 50 animals to be substantial. The reason? Funding. The financial resources available for veterinary research are vastly smaller than those in human medicine.
In recent years, however, research has begun to validate what surgeons have long observed: dogs undergoing TPLO recover faster, develop less joint arthritis, and achieve better long-term function compared to other surgical techniques. Current evidence indicates that TPLO provides superior outcomes over TTA and extracapsular repair. While definitive conclusions are still being drawn, it appears that other similar procedures, such as CWO, CBLO, and TTO, may also offer similar benefits.
         

The "Build-Up" is coming to the top end, and soon the tropical storms and cane toads will be upon us.
​
Cane toads pose a serious threat to our pets with poisonings amongst dogs now very common. Over the past two decades in Katherine, we have seen the establishment of a strong cane toad population, and new pets to the Northern Territory may not be familiar with this pest.

Be careful, there are a few dodgy urban myths about toad poisonings. The most concerning one is that giving the dog activated charcoal can help. This is not true because the toxin is absorbed through the roof of the mouth. The charcoal will have no effect on the absorbed toxin. If the dog is shaking or having seizures and is fed charcoal, the dog may accidentally inhale the charcoal and this will cause dangerous breathing problems.

​It is recommended that once treated, your dog be checked over to ensure there are no after effects. If you are a long way from a vet, you should still call one as soon as possible to get any further advice.
​

Last but not least..
​
One last bit of advice… if you are unfortunate enough for your dog to go through a poisoning episode, after your dog recovers, please get rid of the toad. Preventing contact with toads is often difficult. Some animals will learn to avoid them as the poison doesn’t taste very nice, others will keep going back. One colleague in North Queensland had the same dog come in four times in the one night for toad poisoning.  So, if you see your pet playing with a toad you should remove the toad immediately, and observe your pet closely for at least the next hour. Drinking bowls should be placed up off the ground and checked and changed regularly or a safer alternative is small automatic waterers mounted off the ground.
​
Lets just hope they find a way to get rid of these toads soon.

​So your pet is booked in for a general anaesthetic, I’m sure you now have a few questions about what that means and what you need to do. There’s no need to be too worried, hopefully you can find all your answers below but if not don’t hesitate to give the clinic a call to ask any questions that you need.

​An anaesthetic is when drugs are used to make your pet unconscious and unaware of what is happening. First we give your pet some drugs to make them relaxed and provide some pain relief in preparation for the procedure. The particular drugs 

​Your vet may or may not want you to give your pet its usual medication just before the procedure depending on what it’s on. Therefore if your pet is on long term medication make sure you check with your vet before if they want you to give it or not. 

​We admit patients for procedures between 8am and 9am so bring your pet down between these times. Make sure you dog has been for a toilet walk before hand and be prepared to stay for a little while when you drop your pet as the nurses will have a couple of questions for you. It’s really important that if your pet has been unwell at all in the days leading up to the procedure that you let us know. Sometimes we might feel it is safest to delay the procedure if your pet has been unwell. 

​There is a very small inherent risk associated with any anaesthesia, just as there is with people. The more details we have about your pet’s health on the day of the procedure the safer we can make it for your pet. Having said that the vast majority of procedures go really well and you shouldn’t be spending the whole day worrying. Monitoring your pet during the anaesthesia allows us to adjust what we’re doing to your pet’s individual needs.

​We usually ask that you give us a call between 2-4pm to check how everything has gone and organise a time to come back in and pick up your pet. 

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!

​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.

The Dry season is finally here, or at least attempting to be, so as the waters run off (in reality they have already run off), we start to see a range of hook related issues in our dogs. Can I just say out from the start, hooks and dogs don't mix. If you want to go fishing, it's probably best to leave your dog behind. They'll scare the fish away, or at worst, attract a loving six metre salt water handbag (or for those not in the know - a crocodile!!). But our biggest concern is hooks and dogs. Dogs can either get them hooked in a paw, in a lip, or even worse, swallow them.

allows the vet to gently manipulate the hook from the dogs stomach using specialised equipment. If you happen to pull the string, it could lodge the hook in the stomach wall or even worse, the oesophagus which could lead to complicated surgery. So please leave the hook alone.

So hopefully this gives you a good guide if this emergency should ever occur, but avoidance is always the best option. So leave your beloved fur friend at home if you decide to go fisihing. Your dog will appreciate not having to be driven to the vet in the middle of the night, and it will be a lot more helpful on the hip pocket.

Every year many dogs in the NT become terrified, destroy furniture in a blind panic or go missing on and around fireworks night. Most return or are found unharmed, but sadly each year some are never found.

Fortunately with a little bit of planning this is entirely preventable. If your dog is fearful, it is important to understand what you should do in the lead up to Territory Day so as to make sure your little furry friend can cope with the loud night.

How do I know if my dog is fearful?

Most people will know if their dog is likely to be fearful at fireworks night and to what degree. If your dog is afraid of thunder or gunshots, or has been afraid of fireworks before, it will most likely be afraid of fireworks this time too. Often this fear is greater as generally fireworks are repetitive, close by, loud and inescapable.

What should I do to help my dog?

Remember that although fireworks can only legally be set off on one night, they are often set off illegally on nights before and after so you need to plan ahead.

1. Provide a safe place: Make sure your dog has a safe and secure area to shelter in well ahead of time. Somewhere comfortable, with possibly a blanket to hide under. Often you may know your dog’s safe place.

Remember that a yard or area of a house that normally provides a secure area can be broken out of in a blind panic during fireworks. Dogs have been known to scale high fences and dive through glass windows when panicked. So careful planning is essential

2. Play familiar noises and block out vision of the fireworks: It can be helpful to drown out the loud noises by having the TV on or leaving a radio on. This may help relieve the incessant noises from outside. Also blocking the vision of fireworks may reduce the anticipation and association with these noises.

3. Keep an eye on your dog: It is preferable to have someone home with the dog to supervise and support them if at all possible. Comfort your dog if they require support. Otherwise, act happy and confident, and reward your dog for confident behaviour.

4. Most importantly, speak to your vet: If you know or suspect your dog will become afraid during this period, it is essential to have a talk to your vet. They may advise pheromone therapy or prescribing some sedatives or anti-anxiety medication for your dog. These are often essential for some animals and offer the safest, most effective way to get your dog through this period with as little stress and hassle as possible.