Embark on a mission to rescue the dog afflicted by ear parasites, a condition that has tragically resulted in the loss of his hearing.

The two-year-old dog became lethargic, thin and listless, deteriorating to the point that it was admitted to a pet hospital for a week for a blood transfusion.

“I was really worried about him,” Ms Powell, an enrolled nurse, said.

Testing confirmed Leo had ehrlichiosis, a disease transmitted through bites from brown dog ticks carrying the Ehrlichia canis bacteria.

But what worried the specialists is that Leo lives in the urban Top End, which some experts fear is becoming a new stronghold for a disease spreading like wildfire.

The first Australian case was detected in the Kimberley region of Western Australia in May last year.

By June, cases were rapidly emerging in Katherine in the Northern Territory and the surrounding remote communities.

A grey staffy-cross with its paw on its owner's knee.
Leo spent a week in pet hospital and still needs regular blood tests and check-ups. (ABC News: Dane Hirst)

The Northern Territory government has recorded 370 confirmed cases — 110 in the Darwin and Arnhem Land region, 149 in the Katherine region, 36 in Tennant Creek and in Alice Springs and surrounds, 75.

Experts say countless more have been left undetected in remote communities with little intervention.

“When we finally got to bring him home, [the vets] said he needs to stay inside, he’s at risk of spontaneous bleeding and he might not make it,” Ms Powell said.

“It was very full-on, very emotional.

“There were tears basically every night.”

Until the first cases were discovered just last year, stringent biosecurity controls had kept ehrlichiosis out of Australia.

Experts are still baffled by how the disease got in but, according to Professor Peter Irwin from the School of Veterinary Medicine at Murdoch University, the disease is now considered “endemic” across the NT.

“Ehrlichiosis is one of the most serious diseases of dogs in my opinion,” he said.

“It makes them very ill, and many dogs can die.

“Once it establishes into a tick population, it’s very difficult to eradicate.”

Common symptoms include lethargy, fever and cloudy eyes, which can be cleared up with antibiotics but, if left untreated, the disease can lead to blindness, uncontrollable bleeding and death.

“The problem with this disease is that dogs travel and spread infected ticks,” Professor Irwin said.

“Dogs that have moved from an endemic area of the community into the city will possibly bring ticks with them, and the ticks can then drop off.

“There have now been dogs with the disease identified in most other capitals, most as a result of travel from the north.”

Doctor Stephen Cutter, the head veterinarian at Darwin’s Ark Animal Hospital, is no stranger to the crippling disease.

He said up to 40 per cent of the dogs are infected in the remote communities of the Top End he visits on rotation.

But in August of last year, he saw his first case in a pet that had not left urban Darwin.

Arielle Giles, a vet at the Darwin Veterinary Hospital, confirmed the disease’s spread to Darwin, saying she had seen six cases in the past three months.

A vet inspects a small dog in a clinic.
Dr Stephen Cutter says ehrlichiosis is now “widespread” across the Northern Territory. (ABC News: Dane Hirst)

“It’s a devastatingly bad disease and it’s really difficult to treat,” Dr Cutter said.

“It’s basically everywhere and it’s now a matter of living with it.”

Both Professor Irwin and Dr Cutter said keeping ticks at bay is the best way to prevent ehrlichiosis.

“Because the infection is transmitted so quickly from the tick bites, the most important way of protecting your dog is to use a product, such as a collar that kills ticks before they bite,” Professor Irwin said.

It has now been five months since Leo was struck down by the tiny parasite and, while he is still getting regular check-ups and his future is looking brighter, vets can’t give the all-clear.

“Ehrlichiosis is really nasty in that it can stay hidden in the bone marrow for a long period of time,” Dr Cutter said.

Earlier this year, the NT government brought on a new coordinator to transition the NT’s response to the disease from a biosecurity threat to managing the outbreak.

“This disease is a nationally notifiable disease, which means that suspected cases of E.canis need to be reported, and free testing can be carried out on blood samples from suspected dogs,” said the chief vet at the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade, Dr Sue Fitzpatrick.

The 16 adorable dogs, cats and rabbits up for adoption at RSPCA Leeds and Wakefield

The charity homes the animals, some of which arrived as they could no longer be cared for by their previous owner, at a centre in East Ardsley. Regardless of how they end up there, the animals are cared for until a new home can be found. The RSPCA also offers advice to people who already own pets but may be struggling to cope with the cost of food or healthcare.

Here are all the cats, dogs and rabbits currently being cared for at the centre that have not yet been matched up with the right owners. More information can be found on the RSPCA Leeds and Wakefield website.

One-year-old River is looking for a new home which is cat free, as he is a bit too boisterous around them. He enjoys the company of people and would love his new family to be around a lot of the time. (Photo: RSPCA)
One-year-old River is looking for a new home which is cat free, as he is a bit too boisterous around them. He enjoys the company of people and would love his new family to be around a lot of the time. (Photo: RSPCA)
Seven-year-olds Bob and Dooba were found after they had sadly been abandoned. They would make the perfect duo for any family. (Photo: RSPCA)
Seven-year-olds Bob and Dooba were found after they had sadly been abandoned. They would make the perfect duo for any family. (Photo: RSPCA)
Bob is missing an eye, but the RSPCA team think he was born without it so he has adapted well. He is very affectionate and likes to be in the company of others - he'll happily sit on your lap. (Photo: RSPCA)
Bob is missing an eye, but the RSPCA team think he was born without it so he has adapted well. He is very affectionate and likes to be in the company of others – he’ll happily sit on your lap. (Photo: RSPCA)
Dooba has the greenest of eyes and loves a love a good lap to lay on. He really enjoys being stroked and will even jump on your back! (Photo: RSPCA)
Dooba has the greenest of eyes and loves a love a good lap to lay on. He really enjoys being stroked and will even jump on your back! (Photo: RSPCA)
These beautiful huskies went through a lot of neglect before coming to the centre, and waited months before they were rehomed - sadly, it was not their forever home and they are back again. (Photo: RSPCA)
These beautiful huskies went through a lot of neglect before coming to the centre, and waited months before they were rehomed – sadly, it was not their forever home and they are back again. (Photo: RSPCA)
Tala is eight years old and very laidback - she love a good belly rub and pottering round the garden (Photo: RSPCA)
Tala is eight years old and very laidback – she love a good belly rub and pottering round the garden (Photo: RSPCA)
Goose is permanently on the move but so affectionate and loving towards his favourite people. He enjoys a good brush and cuddle. (Photo: RSPCA)
Goose is permanently on the move but so affectionate and loving towards his favourite people. He enjoys a good brush and cuddle. (Photo: RSPCA)
Two-year-old Rodger has a huge character and love for attention and being around people. He's quite confident once settled and will happily come up and say hello - he enjoys a stroke and fuss too. (Photo: RSPCA)
Two-year-old Rodger has a huge character and love for attention and being around people. He’s quite confident once settled and will happily come up and say hello – he enjoys a stroke and fuss too. (Photo: RSPCA)
Four-year-old Taz is a GSD x Akita who came to the centre last year after a family could no longer adopt her. She went through lots of training and was adopted again but this did not work out for her. Now, she is ready to find her forever family. (Photo: RSPCA)
Four-year-old Taz is a GSD x Akita who came to the centre last year after a family could no longer adopt her. She went through lots of training and was adopted again but this did not work out for her. Now, she is ready to find her forever family. (Photo: RSPCA)More
Three-month-old kittens Kenickie and Sandy arrived at the RSPCA along with three of their siblings, who have now been reserved. They are hoping to be adopted as a pair and are still very young, so their new forever family will need to be around a lot to keep them entertained. (Photo: RSPCA)
Three-month-old kittens Kenickie and Sandy arrived at the RSPCA along with three of their siblings, who have now been reserved. They are hoping to be adopted as a pair and are still very young, so their new forever family will need to be around a lot to keep them entertained. (Photo: RSPCA)More
Sandy is super soppy and loves a lap nap (Photo: RSPCA)
Sandy is super soppy and loves a lap nap (Photo: RSPCA)
Kenickie is always on the go and looking for the next toy to play with (Photo: RSPCA)
Kenickie is always on the go and looking for the next toy to play with (Photo: RSPCA)
This one-year-old rabbit is a handsome, chunky and curious lad. He loves to people watch and enjoys being around and sniffing people, although can get wary when being stroked. (Photo: RSPCA)
This one-year-old rabbit is a handsome, chunky and curious lad. He loves to people watch and enjoys being around and sniffing people, although can get wary when being stroked. (Photo: RSPCA)
This is mother and daughter duo Audrey and Fran. The cheeky Chihuahuas, aged nine and five, do everything together - eating, napping and playing. (Photo: RSPCA)
This is mother and daughter duo Audrey and Fran. The cheeky Chihuahuas, aged nine and five, do everything together – eating, napping and playing. (Photo: RSPCA)
Mum Audrey is shyer than Fran and can take longer to trust new people, but once she's comfortable, she loves a cuddle. (Photo: RSPCA)
Mum Audrey is shyer than Fran and can take longer to trust new people, but once she’s comfortable, she loves a cuddle. (Photo: RSPCA)
Fran always checks out new visitors, giving them the sniff of approval. The pair would suit a family experienced with Chihuahuas, and a calm, quiet and patient home with older children would be ideal. (Photo: RSPCA)
Fran always checks out new visitors, giving them the sniff of approval. The pair would suit a family experienced with Chihuahuas, and a calm, quiet and patient home with older children would be ideal. (Photo: RSPCA)
Bluebell and Buttercup are a closely-bonded pair of sisters who do almost everything together. They're about three months old and are big foodies, they love their greens – and they're very curious and playful. (Photo: RSPCA)
Bluebell and Buttercup are a closely-bonded pair of sisters who do almost everything together. They’re about three months old and are big foodies, they love their greens – and they’re very curious and playful. (Photo: RSPCA)
Zeus, a Staffie X, is a three-year-old bundle of energy and is looking for a family willing to offer unconditional love and keep up with his training. He can be unsure of other dogs so would suit a family that could help him feel comfortable when out on walks. Despite getting over excited at times, he loves a cuddle. (Photo: RSPCA)
Zeus, a Staffie X, is a three-year-old bundle of energy and is looking for a family willing to offer unconditional love and keep up with his training. He can be unsure of other dogs so would suit a family that could help him feel comfortable when out on walks. Despite getting over excited at times, he loves a cuddle. (Photo: RSPCA)More
Luca is a happy-go-lucky bun who really enjoys a quiet and relaxing life.  The one-year-old is super sweet and enjoy the company of people, he likes to be stroked whilst sat next to his favourite people.
Luca is a happy-go-lucky bun who really enjoys a quiet and relaxing life. The one-year-old is super sweet and enjoy the company of people, he likes to be stroked whilst sat next to his favourite people. 

Related Posts

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*