Babesia In A Whippet

[Guest Celeste]

I have a 9 (almost 10 )year old whippet who was recently diagnosed with Babesia. About 3 weeks ago, he had anorexia and fever. Labs were normal except a hgb of 8.5 and slightly suppressed albumin. In house tick panel was negative, but my vet sent the Babesia IFA which came back high positive. Charlie received his first injection of imizol last Friday.

 

Questions:

1. My vet was shocked at the diagnosis as he tells me the ticks that carry Babesia are not endemic to this area (NE Texas). I have never seen ticks on Charlie during the 9 years that I have had him. He was born and lived in NC for 11 months. We were attacked by a pit bull 3 years ago, and based on my reading THAT could be a risk. My other dog that was also injured during that attack has a negative Babesia IFA. Should I be testing the other dogs in my house?

2. Charlie did NOT do well with the injection. His anorexia worsened and he seems weaker. He still drinks, but most meals are 30% of what he normally eats. How long does it take to see an improvement after the injection?

3. What sort of follow up testing is recommended?

4. I read that the anemia associated with Babesia is often mistaken for a hemolytic anemia. Charlie had a non-regenerative anemia -- there were no signs of hemolysis on his smear and no reticulocytes. Does this happen with Babesia, or should we be looking at something else?

 

I live in a small community in Texas. My vet is very honest and has told me that he has never treated a case of this before now. I don't want to jump the gun, but I was also hoping that I would see some improvement at this point (although he did heat half of his meal last night, so perhaps....). He did not tolerate the injection at all well (diarrhea, muscle tremors, some ataxia), so I am not certain what is just the disease and what may be lingering from the antibiotic. I know he's not a greyhound, but I am finding a wealth of information among greyhound owners (and I'm hoping you will help a greyhound "cousin").

Thanks,

Celeste (and Charlie)

[Guest SueG201]

What is his RBC?? Did they test for Erchicia (sp) ?

[Batmom]

Might want to suggest your vet consult with these guys: http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/vth/ticklab.html#babesia . Some more info here: http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/vth/documents/Babesiosis.doc .

 

Pit bulls tend to carry a different type of babesia, which does not respond to Imizol. Not to say that's what your dog has, but it would seem it is a possibility.

 

Sending prayers for your pupper.

[Burpdog]

There is to babesia in Texas.

 

Your best resource is the Tick List. I will also post how to give the shot (directions at work) I know you have to change the needle and alternate sides.

 

Where was the tick panel sent?

[Guest Celeste]

Charlie was tested for Ehrlichiosis on the in house test. I don't know how sensitive that is.

 

I'm sorry I don't have a copy of the lab and don't remember RBC. I think in terms of hgb/hct. Hgb was 8.5 (reference range for all dogs 13-17) and hematocrit was 26. The MCV was 66, which should have been much higher if this was a regenerative anemia. The slide was sent to a pathologist for review. He called it a non-generative anemia without evidence of hematoparasites (he did not call Babesia on visual inspection). The draw was a vein draw, not a capillary draw. There were no signs of hemolysis on the blood smear, and his chemistries have not suggested hemolysis, either.

 

My vet suggested that Babesia is not endemic to this area of Texas. I have no clue....certainly they don't seem to have diagnosed it around here prior to this....but that's a whole other kettle of fish

 

The Babesia IFA was sent to the reference lab at Texas A&M. I hope by the Tick List you mean Tick-L? I just posted there this morning, too.

 

I have become aware of the cross reactivity of the B. cani and gibsoni spp so am wondering if we are treating the wrong species.

Celeste

[Guest SueG201]

I wish you all the luck with this mystery illness, it sounds like exactly what my whippet had

but i could not save her, she was only 9. I sure hope your outcome is better than mine

Hang in there

[Guest GreytMuse]

Celeste, I am so glad to see you posting here. Hopefully someone will have some suggestions or ideas for you and your pup. Many of us know the absolute frustration and worry you are experiencing.

 

In addition to the vet clinic information I emailed you (VCA Preston Park), here is the information on the specialists we were referred to when our grey got sick last year.

 

Animal Diagnostic Clinic

10225 Custer Rd.

Plano, TX 75025

214-667-2244

(Far North Plano at Custer and 121)

 

Dr. Bronstad is the outstanding vet we saw. Smart, caring and he spoke with us very openly.

 

Also within this clinic are a Referral-only Clinic and an Emergency Clinic. They only take the "mystery" cases at the referral-clinic, and this is one of the places our greyhound rescue (GALT) uses and trusts.

 

I hope this information can be of some use to you. Please keep us updated!

 

Courtney

[Trihounds]

2. Charlie did NOT do well with the injection. His anorexia worsened and he seems weaker. He still drinks, but most meals are 30% of what he normally eats. How long does it take to see an improvement after the injection?

3. What sort of follow up testing is recommended?

 

Well, on 2, both our dogs had positive titers for Babesia and both received the Imidocarb injection. It is pretty toxic, which is why the dogs are kept under observsation for several hours following. Both of ours had vomiting and the big D as a result (immediately following the injection), but the next day, their spirits started to pick up. I think it really is a nasty drug and hopefully it's rid Charlie of the parasites. There are 2 injections, 3 weeks apart. One of ours reacted with an abcess, which was really awful and required additional medical care.

 

Our vet did not recommend any follow up, but if we were concerned or other symptoms presented themselves down the road, she suggested to wait at least 4-5 months before a re-test.

 

Good luck with Charlie.