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.
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.
“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.
Full Of Mange And Pain, This Puppy Dog Had Never Been Loved. Then The Miracle Happened !
Meet Thomas, a stray dog who was discovered in appalling condition on Houston’s streets. Thomas, who was just eight months old, was suffering from a terrible skin infection that was causing him excruciating pain and blood loss. Fortunately, a dedicated team of veterinarians and animal lovers came to his aid, and after five months of care, Thomas has changed into a happy, healthy, and adorable pup.
When Thomas was discovered, he was in such a bad condition that he couldn’t even eat. All he could do was snuggle up on his bed and attempt to get some relief from the anguish. The clinic’s team of veterinarians worked tirelessly to heal his skin infection and provide him with the care he required.
Thomas began to show signs of progress as the days passed. He began wagging his tail and begging for attention from people around him. Thanks to the careful care he received, the previously fearful and suffering puppy was gradually becoming a lively and affectionate dog.
Thomas’ metamorphosis was not instant. It took the team of veterinarians and animal lovers who took him in five months of regular treatment, love, and attention. However, their efforts were rewarded, and Thomas is now an entirely different dog. He’s happy and healthy, a far cry from the terrified and suffering pup found on the streets.
Only kindness and love might have resulted in this dog’s amazing metamorphosis. We will be eternally grateful to the rescuers for saving Thomas’ life! Thomas’ rehabilitation is a brilliant example of what can be accomplished when people band together to aid those who cannot help themselves.
So, what happens next for Thomas? He’s ready to find a loving permanent home where he can grow and provide delight to everyone around him now that he’s found his newfound health and happiness. Thomas has a bright future ahead of him, full of love and numerous tail wags, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the team who saved him.
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