Babesiosis in Pets

Even though it is much more likely to affect dogs, it can attack your cat, and is one of the most common forms of infections in animals worldwide.

Babesiosis in pets

This disease is believed to be caused by tick borne protozoan parasites, and in dogs and cats, it was once believed to only be found in tropical and or subtropical regions.

However, quite recently it has also been diagnosed in temperate regions of the world.

The form of Babesiosis parasites that have been found in dogs and cats have been classified into two groupings, large and small. Both forms will attack the vertebrate of both dogs and cats.

The Babesia species of parasites can cause acute “hemolytic anemia”.

Hemolytic anemia is especially dangerous to your pets as it is a rare form of anemia in that it destroys red blood cells from the blood long before their normal lifespan.

Red blood cells typically will live for about 120 days before the body will remove and replace them.

With hemolytic anemia, you pet's body breaks down the red blood cells much faster than their body can have them replaced.

This process is referred to as “hemolysis”. If that alone was not enough to threaten your pet, the anemia process does even more damage.

Anemia effects in the body means that the number of red blood cells is less than normal or they don’t contain enough hemoglobin, which is an iron-rich protein that actually gives the blood its red color.

Anemia also has the ability of lowering your pet's blood count.

Historically, Babesiosis gibsoni, which is the small piroplasm that affects both dogs and cats, was considered an epidemic that was only to be concerned about in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

However, it has now been found in the United States,

But as mentioned earlier, it is now appearing in temperate climates and has especially hit hard in California and some Southeastern states.

The fear with Babesiosis in pets in the United States is that it might find its way into the “tick” population and than the consequences could be just as severe here as they would be in the other parts of the world.

There is also a major concern for several of the more temperate zones in Europe that this parasite is spreading.

Although this has historically been limited to dogs, a feline babesiosis of this has started to appear in the original epidemic countries, especially Africa, and thus the concern now for cats.

All forms of this parasite that have been known to date are transmitted to the pets via their vertebrate by “hard ticks” (Ixodidae).

The ticks inject infectious sporozoites into a dog or a cat by saliva during the enlargement of the tick. Once infected, they than invade, feed and divide several times, thus making it a very dangerous disease for your pet.

Babesiosis in pets,

is a very serious threat to your pet and should not be taken lightly.

The signs that you’re pet may indeed have this disease, would be a fever, dehydration, or even shock.

What is termed “severe haemolyis” can lead to hypotension, extensive tissue damage, neurological dysfunction, and even acute respiratory distress.

Haemorrhages, which are forms of hemorrhages, can be found on the gums of the infected pet as well as the ventral abdomen in some cases.

Dogs that actually survive the initial infection will become life-time carriers, even with the appropriate treatment and removal of all of the original signs of this disease.

The feline version of this disease is not quite as severe, and it is not known exactly why.

Symptoms in your cat will be that of a chronic, but a much lower grade of disease.

It will most likely produce anorexia and depression, which will result of course in weight loss and constipation.

A proper diagnosis Babesiosis in pets can only be done by your veterinarian, but if you live in any of the mentioned countries or in the suspected temperate zones, you can certainly watch for the warning signals.

Treatments of Babesiosis in pets, especially in dogs are very detailed with injections, and severe cases will generally require a blood transfusion.

However, removing all of the possibility to exposure to this disease by prevention is the best way to protect your dog or cat against infection.

Regular spraying, dipping or bathing your pet with topical preparations, will help to prevent Babesiosis in pets, and than if you do find any ticks, immediately remove them.

Natural Treatments for Babesiosis in Pets

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