Pyroplasmosis ... Almost everyone who has started a dog is facing this disease. The disease is so dangerous that the dog, after a few days, or even hours after infection, dies. Although if treatment is started on time, then there will be great chances to save the pet. Dog pyroplasmosis (another, less common name - babesiosis) can be chronic, and can occur acutely. Any dog can be infected, regardless of gender and age. There is an opinion that the disease is seasonal, but from my own experience I can affirm with all responsibility: infection is possible at any time of the year, even in winter, at sub-zero temperatures.
Dogs with a weak immune system signal a few hours after infection, dogs stronger - after a day or more.
Pyroplasmosis. Symptoms
I will try to tell not only about the symptoms, but also about the course of the disease. The dog, as you know, becomes infected after it is bitten by a tick. Actually, he is a carrier of babesia, living and multiplying in the blood. So the dog piroplasmosis begins. The first is infected with blood. Babesias begin to multiply and destroy red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. Their shortage causes shortness of breath in the dog. The dog becomes tired and lethargic. In most cases, there is a rejection of food, even the most delicious and beloved before. The temperature rises. Destruction of red blood cells causes anemia. That is why the mucous membranes become pale, even cyanotic. The breakdown of red blood cells and the waste products of babesia adversely affect the spleen, liver, and kidneys. The organs that are responsible for cleansing of toxins can no longer cope with the work and, after a while, the whites of the eyes turn yellow, the urine changes color (from coffee to red-brown).
Fragments of red blood cells that are already destroyed enter the kidneys, clog the tubules, causing kidney failure. The cardiovascular and respiratory systems begin to work in emergency mode. Pulmonary edema and cerebral hypoxia, paralysis may begin. The consequences are already irreversible.
Dog pyroplasmosis is a serious disease and, if untreated, almost always (with rare exceptions) causes the death of the animal. The incubation period is from one day to three weeks. Immunity is not produced.
The course is super-sharp, in the language of dog breeders "lightning fast": temperature up to 41 degrees, refusal of any food, shortness of breath, apathy and severe fatigue, urine mixed with blood (brown or coffee color), vomiting is possible, mucous membranes turn pale, whites of the eyes turn yellow. The animal dies on the second or third day. It is important to know that the temperature can "jump" at the initial stage of the disease, for a short time. Therefore, the absence of high temperature is not a guarantee that the dog has a different disease.
The course is chronic (the form is very rare): the temperature rises, then normalizes. Appetite, general lethargy and apathy worsen. The animal is depressed. The states of "improvement-deterioration" are replaced.
Pyroplasmosis in dogs. Treatment.
If the symptoms described above are similar to the symptoms of your dog, urgently go to the clinic, even if the tick is not found! You must consider that the tick can bite and fall away.
The first thing to do is analysis. Insist that blood be taken from the ear (or finger). It is useless to take blood from a vein at the initial stage of the disease, babesias will be found in it already during rapid development, and you will lose precious hours and reduce the chances of saving the dog. The analysis must be done even if the clinic is not yet pronounced. Agree, it is better to be safe ...
Treatment will be prescribed by a doctor. The treatment tips that will be given here can be used in an emergency, emergency (if there is no way to see a doctor). Based on my experience, but I urge you: contact the clinic !!!
1) in order to destroy the pathogen, a single injection (sometimes repeated after 24 hours) is made of one of the drugs: verbene, berynil, azidine (I prefer the last of these) based on kg of weight 0.015 g intramuscularly;
2) symptomatic treatment to maintain the dog: furosemide (diuretic), camphor (for the heart, subcutaneously), carlsil (will support the liver, according to the instructions), immunofan (or ribotan, to increase resistance, intramuscularly, for three days in a row), cathozal ( to improve metabolism, intramuscularly for a week cube), a complex of "vitamins + minerals".
3) nutrition in small doses, easily digestible, diet.
Treatment does not end there! Let me remind you again: dog pyroplasmosis is a very dangerous disease with a fatal outcome in most cases, therefore, going to the clinic is necessary for the good of your dog. Further treatment will be adjusted by the veterinarian.
And finally: do not spare money to protect the dog from ticks and fleas. The best drugs to date are Front Line and Advantix. Special collars go as a complement to the main processing and using them without the mentioned preparations is pointless.