The discovery has left local veterinarians warning residents about the increased risk to their pets when travelling around in the coming weeks.

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MyVet Strathfieldsaye vet Susan Bibby said canine ehrlichiosis can be fatal in dogs.

"It is fatal in dogs and it has been causing quite a lot of deaths up in the Northern Territory and South Australia," she said.

"The case in Horsham is the first one we have had in Victoria and it's important to note it was in a dog that had travelled from the Northern Territory.

"The dog didn't become infected here in Victoria."

Ms Bibby said people should be aware of the potential danger when travelling with their pet.

"If people are travelling or have travelled inter-state they should get some advice from their vet about what preventative measures they should take practically with preventing ticks," she said.

"People can make sure that their dog is on an effective tick prevention and not all preventions are good enough.

"Try to avoid places like roadside stops or places where other dogs might have congregated."

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Dr Bibby said dogs were safe unless they had been bitten, as the disease was only spread by ticks.

She warned bushland, or areas where many other dogs visited, such as roadside stops, could be high risk when travelling.

Dr Bibby said anyone whose dogs showed symptoms of canine ehrlichiosis should take it to the vet immediately.

Ticks infected with the ehrlichiosis bacteria were discovered in South Australia in January, in the state's far north west.

For more information on ehrlichiosis, visit the Agriculture Victoria website or call 136 186.

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