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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. 
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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.
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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. 
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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
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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
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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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Cane Toad Poisoning in Dogs

7/9/2018

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The "Build-Up" is coming to the top end, and soon the tropical storms and cane toads will be upon us.
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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.
So what makes them so toxic? 

Cane toads (Bufo marinarus) carry several toxins in their parotid and verrucous glands including bufotoxins, bufogenins and amines – some really nasty stuff. When a dog bites down on a toad, these toxins are released from these glands and they pass very quickly through the surface of the mouth. The toxins can affect the heart and nerves. One full grown toad has enough toxin to kill at least 100 medium sized dogs.
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What are the Signs of Cane Toad Poisoning?

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Signs of cane toad poisoning in your dog will initially appear as profuse salivation (frothing), head shaking and pawing at the mouth. If it is not treated or your dog receives a large enough dose, it can progress to vomiting, weakness, seizures, and eventually death. This all can happen within an hour.


What Can I do?

It is not all bad news. If your dog is exhibiting only mild signs such as frothing at the mouth, the most important thing you can do is to wash their mouth out for several minutes with water and rub it with a cloth. Make sure you don’t point the hose to the back of their throat or you can drown your dog, so hold their head down. IF, however, your dog starts to have seizures, seek veterinary help immediately!!! Generally the outcome is good with early intervention.

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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.
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What if my dog swallows a cane toad?

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The good news is that stomach acid deactivates the cane toad toxin. So if your dog has swallowed a cane toad whether it is fresh or dried, unless the toxin touched the inside surface of his/her mouth, they will be fine (unless the toad is off - then there could be a case of food poisoning.)
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Last but not least..
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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.

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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Colic in Horses

26/7/2018

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by Dr Megan Thomas
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What is Colic?

​Colic is very common in horses and includes a number of conditions. Basically colic is pain in the belly. This normally refers to pain in the intestines and/or stomach, but can occasionally include the kidney, liver, bladder or reproductive organs. Sometimes horses with a muscle condition called recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis can present like colic.

Fortunately 80% of these are ‘simple colics’ referring to the gut and can be treated medically rather than surgically.

What are the signs of colic?

Signs of colic are associated with abdominal pain. This may include kicking or biting at the abdomen, flank watching, laying down and getting up repeatedly, pawing, decreased faecal output, inappetance, rolling frequently and generally looking uncomfortable.

Which horses are at risk?

A number of things can put a horse at risk of experiencing intestinal colic:
- Previous Colic: If a horse has previously had colic, it is at increased risk of experiencing it again.
- Breed: Even though all breeds of horses are at risk, Arabians and Thoroughbreds seem to be at increased risk.
- Diet: This is another component which can play a role in colic. Coarse roughage with low digestibility can lead to impaction colic, while high grain diets or a sudden change in feed can also lead to colic. Feeding horses on the ground or stabling on sand can put them at risk of experiencing sand colic.
- Parasites: Worms can also cause colic, particularly in young horses. It is possible for a horse who is regularly wormed to have a parasite issue if there is resistance. Chat to one of our vets about which product is best and how frequently it should be used. Generally in the more tropical regions, it is more important to worm during wet periods

My horse has signs of colic. What can my vet do?

A vet is essential to start treatment for your horse. The vet will examine your horse and using measurements such as heart rate, gum colour, gut sounds and level of pain, to help them determine the severity of the colic and what treatment is needed. The vet may also check a blood marker known as ‘lactate’ which is useful to determine the severity of the condition, chance of survival and response to treatment.

What treatment is given for colic?

Depending on the severity of the colic, the vet will give pain relief and assess the horse's response. Often a stomach tube is passed via the nose to the stomach, this assists in releasing pressure in the stomach, assessing reflux (whether there is vomit) and also allows us to administer fluids into the gut, as well as other treatments such as paraffin oil or magnesium sulfate if needed. This is a specialised treatment that only vets should perform. If the treatments go into the lungs instead of the gut, it can be fatal.

Often this is all that is needed. In some cases treatments will need to be repeated every few hours. In some cases, surgery is required. In some cases, intestinal colic is fatal.



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What causes colic?

There are a few different types of colic, the following summarises the commonly seen or talked about colics.

Sand colic

Many horses that are fed on the ground or are kept on sandy soils are at risk of picking up small amounts of sand as they eat. This accumulates overtime in the large intestines and cause inflammation, decreased function and impaction.
A vet is able to administer a combination of products via stomach tube which have been shown to remove sand from the intestinal tract.

Impaction colic

This is one of the most common causes of colic, it is possible to present with severe pain, however many can be treated in the field by administering fluids. Occasionally, larger and more severe impactions may require surgery to correct.  
It is essential colic is treated early because many are related to dehydration, whereby an mass of food becomes dry in the intestines and blocks movement. Therefore it is paramount that impaction colics are treated early to try and prevent dehydration and therefore the impaction worsening.
   
Displacement, strangulations and torsion colics

These forms of colic are very serious and can be fatal without some form of intervention.
- Displacement colic occurs when a section of bowel moves to an abnormal location in the abdomen.
- Strangulation Colics occur when the blood supply to a piece of gut gets cut off. This can be due to fatty lumps known as lipomas.
- Torsions are another form of colic, this occurs when the bowel twists and cuts off blood supply.

These forms of colic are uncommon but are very serious, milder displacements may be corrected by medical management however more serious forms require surgery. The early stages of these forms of colic can initially appear like the simpler less life threatening impaction and sand colics.

Colic Myths –
Stopping your horse from rolling will stop the bowel from twisting.
The idea of walking a colicking horse is to distract the horse from the pain. You must remember however to not walk the horse to exhaustion and stop for a few minutes every so often to monitor for colic behaviour.

Things your vet might want to know
·         Has the horse colicked before?
·         Horses age?
·         How long has it been colicky for?
·         What signs is it showing?

·         How frequent are the pain signs?
·         Has the horse passed faeces?
·         When did the horse last drink and eat?
·         Any changes in the environment, feeding or management recently?
·         Has the horse been worked recently?
·         If a mare, is she pregnant? Or has she recently foaled?
·         The horses worming history. 

If you have any further questions, please contact one of our vets at either Ketherine Veterinary Clinic on 08 8972 3599 or at Alice Veterinary Centre on 08 89524353.
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My dog has swallowed a hook. What should I do? A Guide to Hook-related injuries in Dogs.

12/5/2016

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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.

So what can we do if we are far away and our dog gets a hook related issue?

Here is a quick guide on what to do. First of all, Don't Panic!! Try to get veterinary attention or seek veterinary advice for the individual circumstance. If no vet is around or you have no phone access, do the following:

- If the hook is caught on a paw or lip, and if the dog lets you, cut the hook in half and push the sharp point forwards. Do not pull it back as the barb will catch the tissue. Be careful to not get bitten or hooked up. Regardless, if the hook is removed, seek veterinary attention, as a tetanus shot will be likely required, and a course of antibiotics may be needed.
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- If the hook is swallowed and there is no string coming out of the dog's mouth, give the dog food to help coat the hook. In some cases the hook will pass through its system and eventually out into the dog's poo. This should be done under veterinary monitoring and x-rays may be needed to monitor its progress. If it gets stuck, surgical removal may be required
- However, if there is string hanging out, this is a veterinary emergency. Whatever you do, DO NOT PULL THE STRING. Also do not cut the string. Under careful veterinary management, it is possible in most circumstances to remove the hook without the need for surgery (unless it is multiple barbs or hooks). The string
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.
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The Do’s and Don’ts of Heat Stroke

11/11/2014

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by Dr Lauren Walter

It is the hot time of year again, and sadly, heat stroke (otherwise known as heat stress or exercise induced hyperthermia) is a real and potentially fatal risk to your pet. The most common heat stress situations occur when dogs are left in cars, worked in hot conditions, left unattended in yards with little shade, or when they knock their water over.

There are even some dogs that are at increased risk of getting too hot. These are generally short-nosed breeds such as bulldogs and pugs, and those with underlying breathing difficulties. These dogs have problems because their main cooling method (ie. panting) is already compromised. And we also have to be careful of working dogs and mad ball chasers, which are very prone to heat stress if not given “rest breaks”.
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.It has been shown that on a 30’C day, the temperature in a parked car can reach 50’C in 5 minutes and over 70’C within 10 minutes! Leaving the windows ajar makes no difference to the temperature increase. Your dog’s normal temperature is between 38 and 39’C and they only have to reach 42’C to be at risk of dying.

Heat stroke is a very serious condition with many complications that requires aggressive intensive care. Unfortunately, many severely affected dogs do not recover.

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But what should we do if the worst happens?
If you find your pet overheated, follow these simple guidelines to help maximize their chance of recovery:

Do
1. Immediately wet them down with cool water (not cold). Repeat frequently!! Hosing gently under the neck and belly between the legs can be effective.

2. Take them to the vet ASAP. Time is of the essence!!
3. Wet them down for the journey. Windows down, fans full blast and air conditioning on.

If you are unable to come in immediately,

1. Move your animal to a cool shaded area with good air flow or use a fan.
2. Wet down your animal. Place cool packs (or ice packs wrapped in towels) in armpits and groin areas.
3. If possible, Monitor their rectal temperature.


Regardless, you must stop actively cooling once temperature reduces to 39.5’C.

Do NOT

1. Do NOT Immerse your dog in cold water or put them in ice baths.This reduces peripheral circulation, and whilst the extremities become cold, their vital internal organs stay hot! Animals that are over-cooled (become hypothermic) are much less likely to survive.

2. Do NOT Cut their ears. Dogs can survive despite this common procedure, but it does nothing to help them.  It does not help to cool your dog at all!! In fact, the resultant blood loss can further reduce vital organ function and make things worse. Your pet is in a critical condition and may develop a bleeding disorder. More blood loss will not help!

3. Do NOT Cover them with towels, wet or otherwise. People often think this is the right thing to do. In fact, this can prevent proper convection cooling and actually trap the heat in.


So what should I do to help them in the future?

Do NOT Exercise dogs during the day in hot weather. Prevention is better than cure. In warm conditions, allow your pet to rest and cool every 30 minutes. Be particularly careful in humid weather as their normal panting (evaporative cooling) system is less effective. You cannot rely on them to tell you when they need a rest 


Most importantly Do NOT Put a recovered dog in a risky situation again. There can be permanent damage to the ‘heat centre’ of the brain from an episode of heat stress. Recovered animals remain at a higher risk of developing hyperthermia and hyopothermia in the future.

For further questions or queries, contact our vets at Katherine Veterinary Clinic, or Alice Veterinary Centre.

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