Tick diseases can run rampant in greyhounds in sub-par kennel situations. Babesiosis, Erhliciosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme Disease are the big four. Protatek Lab provides testing for all three at a discounted rate for greyhounds. Their lab is good. I’ve had false positive results with other labs. Tick diseases can kill when not treated, and any greyhound displaying lethargy, depression, immune issues, limping, blood issues, fever should be tested.
BABESIOSIS:
Babesiosis is a tick-borne protozoal disease of the blood of Greyhounds and other canines resulting in anemia. The parasite, Babesia canis, has worldwide distribution, but is most prevalent in the tropical and subtropical regions such as north-eastern Australia and southeastern United States. Literature reports for percentages of infected Greyhounds range from 55% (southeastern United States) to 46% (Florida) (Taboada et al., 1992). In the latter study, Greyhounds had a much higher infection rate (46%) than pet dogs (0%) from the same area. All Greyhounds that were actively racing tested negative, while the highest number of positive tests coupled with clinical signs of disease was in the pups.
Clinical Signs: Babesiosis can result in anemia with pale gums, fever, yellowish color to the mucous membranes of the mouth, eye and vagina (in females), weakness, depression and a reluctance to eat. Many infections with Babesia in Greyhounds are not obvious to the owner. Heavy tick and Babesia infestation can cause shock and death. Stress may cause an apparently normal but chronically infected Greyhound to develop clinical signs. A blood test will detect the degree of anemia as well as the presence of the parasite itself in the red blood cells. In some cases, measurement of antibodies to the parasite in the blood sample is needed to make a confirmatory diagnosis.
Positive titer means *exposure* to babesia, not the presence of the disease condition, babesiosis, or even the presence of the disease causing agent, B. canis. If titers increase over time, this is a good indication (though not definitive) that B. canis is still present in the dog. Additionally if symptoms persist or worsen, treatment may be called for. If titers decrease over time, this is a good indication (though not definitive) that B. canis is no longer present, and the body is no longer producing antibodies. Positive titer does not mean disease. This cannot be overstressed. Depending on whose figures you look at, somewhere between 35 and 75% of the greyhound population has been exposed to babesia, erlichia, or RMSF.
**
Phases: Acute – This phase is of short duration, and is where the dog is initially infected with the disease. If the dog does not die outright from the infection, then it moves on to the next phase.
Subclinical – This phase can last months or years. It is characterized by a fine equilibrium between the parasite and the immune system of the host. This equilibrium can be disturbed by a number of things: environmental stress, additional diseases/infections (especially Ehrlichiosis), immunodeficiency, spleen removal, surgery, stress, hard work, imuno suppressive treatment, use of corticosteroids (Prednisone is a no-no).
The dog may exhibit few clinical symptoms during this phase, beyond intermittent fever and loss of appetite. If the equilibrium is disturbed, the parasite will begin to slowly grow in number and the dog will move into the next phase. Infected Greyhounds are often in this phase when they are adopted.
Chronic – If the dogs system remains unable to clear the parasite, it enters this final phase. The most obvious initial signs to an owner are a cycle of: lethargy, loss of interest in food, and a gradual loss of body condition especially evident around the eyes and along the spine. Other symptoms are: upper respiratory problems – coughing or labored breathing, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, ulcerative stomatitis (sores in the mouth), edema (swelling), abdominal swelling (ascites), bleeding under the skin or a rash (purpura), low White Blood Cell count, clotting problems, joint swelling, back pain, seizures, weakness, increased liver enzyme, low Platelet count, hyper reflective eyes, enlarged lymph nodes, enlarged spleen, septic shock, depression.
Misdiagnosed as: hemolytic anemia, kidney failure, vague blood disorder, thrombocytopenia, “doggie aids”, autoimmune disease, Von Willebrands disease, leukemia, DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation – severe clotting disorder).
Treatment: The current drug of choice (Imidocarb Dipropionate). It is a chemo-therapeutic agent. Imidocarb is the least toxic of all of the anti-babesial drugs, and the success rate is stated in research papers to be 95 – 98%. There are also un-substantiated claims of Doxicycline and/or Clindamycin being used to treat Babesia.
Are there any tricks for minimizing the reaction to Imidocarb?
Yes. Have your vet give the injection IM (intramuscular) into the lumbar (back) muscles, just as you do with the Immiticide heartworm injection. IM minimizes the chance of a sterile abscess. Pull up the immidocarb with one needle, then put on a fresh 22 g 1″ needle to inject, so that there is no stingy residue on the needle. Greyhounds tolerate the “fresh needle” injection into the lumbar muscles well (they will scream bloody murder if you inject it into a hindleg). The owners can give her 1 mg per pound of Benadryl (diphenhydramine) orally an hour before the injection (don’t wait til you get to the vet and have them give injectable Benadryl, it’s just one more stingy injection for her). The one greyhound I treated who had an allergic-type reaction (swollen face) on the first injection didn’t react to 3 subsequent injections. It wasn’t a major reaction, we just noticed it on the way out the door and gave her Benadryl. Suzanne Stack, DVM