Page 159 - Ebook Explore Cape York

Explore Cape York 153
● Ensure your dog’s vaccinations are up-to-date. Consider
having them vaccinated for Leptospirosis, a disease
causing a range of symptoms including diarrhea, eye
inflammation, jaundice, possibly resulting in kidney/liver
failure. It is found Australia-wide but is more common
in areas with warm climates and high annual rainfall

● Canine ehrlichiosis (pronounced ‘err-lick-ee-oh-sis’) is a
disease that affects dogs and is caused by a tick-borne
bacteria called Ehrlichia canis. The brown dog tick which
is present across central and northern Australia. If left
untreated, the disease can be fatal. It will eventually
reach Cape York. Skydogs, our fly-in vet, recommends
using a monthly flea and tick preventative combined
with a quality tick collar.

● Do be mindful of other campers – you may consider your
dog snuffling your groin a lovely display of affection,
others may not be so keen - there will be times when
your dog needs to be kept on a leash or tied up
My dogs came to Cape York as 3-month-old puppies, both love
to swim and have done so from the CREB to the Tip – local
knowledge is a great thing. They also seem to have a sixth
sense when a croc is round and they will not go in the water –
that may be local knowledge too!

If your dog is one that likes to swim halfway to China before
returning to the beach, keep it on a lead.

With all that in mind it’s up to you to decide whether your best
mate accompanies you…or not.