Ehrlichiosis disease in dogs
Ehrlichiosis (E. canis) is a tick-borne disease of dogs that occurs worldwide, particularly in tropical and sub-tropical regions.
It is caused by the bacteria Ehrlichia canis, and it is transmitted only by the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Dogs infected with ehrlichiosis cannot transmit the disease to other dogs or to people. In rare cases, infected ticks may infect people.
If not treated properly, E. canis can result in death. All dog owners should follow the advice below. Information about ticks and human health precautions is available from WA Health.
Veterinarians should read our E. canis information and resources, including reporting processes, disease factsheets, and management guidelines.
Infection areas
E. canis has been confirmed in SA, detected in both dogs and ticks. Brown dog ticks carrying the disease are found throughout:
- far northern areas of South Australia
- the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands
- Port Augusta and surrounding regions.
Regions around Port Augusta and further north are considered the highest risk areas for infection.
The species of tick that carries the disease is thought to be found all over South Australia but in low numbers. Infected ticks may eventually be found in other regions.
Beyond SA, ehrlichiosis is established in the Northern Territory and northern Western Australia. It could spread across tropical and semi-tropical areas, such as Queensland and New South Wales.
Symptoms in dogs
Initial signs of infection can include:
- fever
- lethargy
- enlarged lymph nodes
- loss of appetite
- discharge from the eyes and nose
- weight loss
- bleeding disorders.
The severity of the disease varies among dogs. It takes approximately 1 to 3 weeks after the tick bite for early signs of ehrlichiosis to show.
Ehrlichiosis can resemble other diseases like lymphoma and multiple myeloma. It also appears as other tick-borne diseases that are not present in SA, such as anaplasmosis and babesiosis.
Report E. canis
Ehrlichiosis is a notifiable disease in Australia. If your dog is showing the above symptoms, you must take it to your local vet for examination.
If your vet confirms E. canis, they must report it to PIRSA through the national Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline.
Manage E. canis
If your dog lives in or travels to an area where brown dog ticks occur, such as the northern part of SA above Port Augusta, you need to look out for signs of the disease.
Contact a vet if your dog shows symptoms of fever, lethargy, or appetite loss. Early treatment provides the best chance of recovery if your dog has ehrlichiosis.
Take the following precautions to reduce your dog's risk of ehrlichiosis.
Use a tick repellent collar or spot-on
Use a tick repellent collar or spot-on
These repellents prevent ticks from biting the dog, so there is minimal opportunity for your dog to become infected.
Also treat your dog’s bedding and the yard with repellent so your dog isn't reinfected by ticks in their environment.
Inspect your dog daily
Inspect your dog daily
Removing ticks as soon as they're found is important because tick treatments may not always kill the tick fast enough to stop your dog becoming infected.
Check your dog's coat over their skin, feeling for abnormal bumps. Pay particular attention to their:
- head
- neck
- ears
- chest
- between their toes
- around their mouth and gums.
Hire a pest controller
Hire a pest controller
Tick treatments may not be 100% effective, so the best way to prevent your dog getting ehrlichiosis is to keep them in areas with no ticks.
Have tick infestations in your house or yard managed by a pest controller.
Travelling with your dog
There are actions you can take to prevent further spread of infected ticks and help keep your dog safe.
Moving dogs into northern SA, NT and WA
Moving dogs into northern SA, NT and WA
Your dog will be at higher risk of ehrlichiosis if you travel with them to areas with known brown dog tick infestations (northern SA, NT and WA).
Where possible, avoid high-risk areas. If you can’t, then reduce your dog’s risk:
- Use repellent tick collars and spot-ons in combination with tablets and chews that control ticks.
- Inspect your dog regularly for ticks.
- Avoid stops in areas where there are many dogs with tick infestations or high numbers of ticks.
If your dog gets sick when travelling, tell your veterinarian where you went and when.
Moving dogs into SA
Moving dogs into SA
Before you travel into South Australia, make sure your dog is:
- in good health and not showing signs of illness
- free of ticks
- on a current tick control program.
If your dog shows signs of illness, have them checked by a veterinarian before travelling to South Australia to make sure they do not have ehrlichiosis.
Moving dogs out of SA
Moving dogs out of SA
Dog movement conditions apply in some Australian states and territories:
- Western Australia – Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
- Northern Territory – Department of Primary Industry and Resources
- Queensland – Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
- New South Wales – Department of Primary Industries
- Victoria – Agriculture Victoria
- Tasmania – Biosecurity Tasmania
