Victorian travellers are urged to guard their dogs in opposition to a severe tick-borne sickness this summer season season.
Agriculture Victoria deputy chief veterinary officer Doctor Cameron Bell mentioned it’s vital canine house owners take preventative steps in opposition to ehrlichiosis, a bacterial illness transmitted by the brown canine tick.
“Ehrlichiosis is transmitted by brown dog ticks biting and infecting dogs,” Dr Bell mentioned.
“Dogs with ehrlichiosis may show no signs of illness or may become very sick and die, with signs of infection including fever, tiredness, conjunctivitis, nose bleeds or bleeding under the skin, small spots or bruising, and swellings on the body and limbs.”
Agriculture Victoria mentioned there is no such thing as a vaccine for dogs in opposition to ehrlichiosis, however antibiotics could assist if affected animals are handled early. Tick management is the primary protecting measure in opposition to the illness.
“Check your dog for ticks by running your fingers through their coat and feeling for any unusual bumps or ticks – carefully checking around the head, neck, ears, chest, between toes and around mouth and gums,” Dr Bell mentioned.
Ehrlichiosis was discovered for the primary time in an Australian canine within the Kimberley area in mid-2020. Since then, it has unfold across the nation and is now present in most states and territories.
On uncommon events, people can turn out to be contaminated by means of the chew of an contaminated tick. Consult a medical skilled you probably have any considerations or really feel unwell after being uncovered to ticks.
Dogs can not immediately transmit an infection to individuals or on to different dogs.
“If you think your dog has ehrlichiosis, contact your vet, call your Agriculture Victoria District Veterinary Officer or the Customer Contact Centre on telephone 136 186,” Dr Bell mentioned.
“If you do discover a tick, fastidiously take away it as near the pores and skin floor as doable with fine-point tweezers or a tick removing software, taking care to not pinch the canine’s pores and skin.
“Place in a resealable bag to take to your native veterinarian for identification – guaranteeing to freeze it first in the event you’re unable to take it instantly.
“Vets can also provide advice on tick control methods, effective products and tick removal and should be consulted if you’re travelling with your dog to high-risk areas such as the Northern Territory, northern Western Australia and northern South Australia.”
Tick management strategies embody repellent tick collars and spot-ons as the very best main safety, together with tablets and chews registered for tick management.
Learn extra about ehrlichiosis by way of the Agriculture Victoria web site.
Information: https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/animal-diseases/general-livestock-diseases/ehrlichiosis
