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 by the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus. If not treated properly, it can result in death.

Veterinarians should read our information and resources on E. canis, including:

  • reporting
  • testing
  • disease fact sheets
  • management guidelines.

All dog owners should follow the advice below.

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 1–3 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.

E. canis transmission

Dogs infected with ehrlichiosis cannot transmit the disease to other dogs. Transmission only occurs through infected ticks.

Infected dogs do not transmit ehrlichiosis to people. In rare cases, infected ticks may infect people.

Information about ticks and human health precautions is available from the WA Health website.

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 should report it to PIRSA by phoning the national Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline: 1800 675 888.

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 can reduce their risk of ehrlichiosis.

Use a tick repellent collar and/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

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 these areas:

  • head
  • neck
  • ears
  • chest
  • between their toes
  • around their mouth and gums.

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.

Look for signs of the disease

Contact your vet if your dog shows these symptoms:

  • fever
  • lethargy
  • appetite loss.

Early treatment provides the best chance of recovery if your dog has ehrlichiosis.

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

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 by:

  • using repellent tick collars and spot-ons in combination with tablets and chews that control ticks
  • inspecting your dog regularly for ticks
  • avoiding 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

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

Dog movement conditions apply in some states and territories. Read further information:

Page last reviewed: 16 Nov 2023

 


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