Ticks, Trips and Trouble: The Changing Map of Infectious Disease

Looking at common infectious diseases/parasites from outside of the UK that we are seeing more often in our companion animals As international travel and the rehoming of dogs from overseas rise, clinicians are increasingly encountering diseases once considered “exotic” in first-opinion practice. Sarah Cox, one of our Internal Medicine Residents, will provide an overview of key imported and emerging infectious diseases, including Brucellosis, Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, Heartworm disease, Leishmaniasis and Babesiosis. We’ll take a look at how these diseases present, how to approach them diagnostically, and what to do next in a first-opinion setting. There will also be a discussion around using in-house screening tools such as SNAP 4Dx, including how to interpret results in context. The aim is to help you feel more confident in recognising potential red flags, approaching treatment of dogs from abroad, and making sensible, informed decisions in day-to-day practice.