A veterinarian working across northern Australia has sounded a new alarm over what he calls "an explosion" of cases of the deadly dog disease ehrlichiosis.

Flying vet Campbell Costello said thousands of dogs had now died in the Northern Territory and more were dying daily.

"I am sick of looking at dead dogs, tell people down south they have no idea what is coming."

Ehrlichiosis is a disease spread by the common brown tick which was first discovered in northern Western Australia early last year.

Diseased dogs or ticks have since been found in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia.

Dr Costello, from Outback and Airborne Veterinary Services currently based at the Barkly Veterinary Practice at Tennant Creek, said the re-opening of borders has seen the return of the grey nomads and other visitors for the dry season in the north.

He has already been called on to treat their dogs for ehrlichiosis infections, and keeps seeing a 80 per cent mortality rate.

"Little Fluffy in the back of the van is either going to die up here of be a carrier when they go back home."

Dr Campbell said he was appalled there were no biosecurity road blocks for people travelling north to advise them of the outbreak, and warn dog owners to get two kinds of tick protection.

"It just shows you we were not ready for this, or for rabies or whatever else comes in," he said.

"We are getting crucified up here, we are snowed under ... 80 per cent of the dogs that come in have it.

"The official advice is that ehrlichiosis is well established but that's not right, it is endemic."

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Dr Campbell said the disease had not only decimated dog populations in remote communities but was killing backyard pets in urban areas as well.

"Cases are going to explode across Australia after this grey nomad season."

He said the only defence to ehrlichiosis was two forms of tick protection, there are no vaccines.

He said the chewable tablets people often believed provided adequate tick protection were not enough.

"That takes five hours to remove a tick, it is only taking 30 minutes to an hour for a tick to pass it on."

He said a repellent like a Pyrethrin collar was also needed.

"If you think you can just run your hands over your dog and find the ticks you can't.

"I have been a vet for 11 years and I still miss them."

He was alarmed there was not a greater public biosecurity alert about the disease.

"It has highlighted how underprepared we are when a new disease like this gets in."