Canine (Dog) Babesiosis

Canine (Dog) Babesiosis is a disease that destroys a dog’s red blood cells. Babesia parasites (younger ones) go into red blood cells and destroy them.

Younger dogs in kennels are most at risk.

The dog’s immune system will try to destroy any infected red blood cells in order to destroy the parasites in them. If a large number of cells are infected, it results in a red blood cell deficiency, called anemia. Sometimes, the immune system will also destroy uninfected cells. This is called immune-mediated hemolytic anemia.

CAUSES OF CANINE BABESIOSIS:

* Dog bite from an infected dog
* Tick bite from a carrying tick.
* Infected pregnant dogs can spread to her unborn puppies

SYMPTOMS:

The most common signs of babesiosis are:

* Lack of appetite
* Pale tongue and gums
* Swollen lymph nodes
* Fever
* Weakness
* Dark color urine

Often infected dogs get other tick-related diseases (such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever or Lyme Disease) when bitten by a tick carrying Babesiosis. These diseases will make the babesiosis more severe.

DIAGNOSIS:

* PCR testing: extremely sensitive test that tests for different types of babesia
* Complete Blood Count (CBC): a blood test that measures the number of red and white blood cells
* Blood smear: examines single cells from your dog’s blood
* Immunofluorescence: uses a fluorescent dye to illuminate viruses in the body

TREATMENTS:

Treatment depends on the exact type of babesia your dog has. Treatments will usually include:

* Medications: injected or through an IV
* Blood transfusions: 50% of dogs need this done.

PREVENTION:

Babesiosis can be prevented with good tick control:

* Avoid tick-infested environments as much as possible.
* Tick repellents: for yourself and your dog.
* Tick checks: After being in tick risk areas, check your dog for ticks.

Removing ticks quickly will greatly reduce the chance of your dog contracting of babesiosis.

Quickly remove any tick and kill it by putting it in rubbing alcohol or crushing it. If the tick is moving, it has not yet bitten your dog. If you crush the tick, do not get its blood on your skin, the bacteria can enter your body through a cut.

If the tick is attached to your dog, use tweezers to grasp the tick as close to you pet’s skin as possible, and slowly and steadily pull it straight out. It is important kill the tick after removing it, or it may look for another target to bite.

PROGNOSIS:

Surviving dogs are usually lifetime carriers of the disease; they may suffer relapses with stress, and also may spread the disease further.

Dogs that have recovered from babesiosis should not donate blood because the recipients will get the disease.

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