Ted is a happy, active, bright and alert Beagle. He’s always been well taken care of, vaccinated and on a flea/tick preventive. With his owner, he moved to Ireland from Poland where he grew up.
She removed it carefully and killed it knowing tick can carry nasty diseases.
The next day, though, Ted refused food and became lethargic and weak. This was in stark contrast to his normal behaviors and Ted's mom immediately knew something was wrong.
All the first visit revealed was fever and some discomfort in Ted's belly. Ted was prescribed antibiotics and sent home. At first, it seemed the treatment was working. Ted got a bit better but a week later he still wasn’t himself.
A blood test confirmed that Ted had lost half of his red blood cells.
There were no signs of bleeding, either externally or internally. Something was destroying Ted's red blood cells.
I too would want to understand the tick's involvement in the situation as it seems too strong of s coincidence.
Based on Ted's history, the vet ordered a specialized test for Babesia Canis. And sure enough, thousands of these microscopic parasites invaded Ted's red blood cells, destroying them in the process.
Ted needed an urgent special treatment to save his life as well as aggressive supportive care. Some dogs even need blood transfusions to survive.
The prognosis for a dog diagnosed with babesiosis is guarded.
What would have happened, though, if the veterinarian didn’t give strong consideration to his history? What would have happened if they jumped to conclusions and started treating him for autoimmune disease?
Original Story:
Ted the 7-year-old Beagle fell seriously ill from a tick
One day Ted’s owner found a large tick on Ted’s back nonetheless.
She removed it carefully and killed it knowing tick can carry nasty diseases.
The next day, though, Ted refused food and became lethargic and weak. This was in stark contrast to his normal behaviors and Ted's mom immediately knew something was wrong.
All the first visit revealed was fever and some discomfort in Ted's belly. Ted was prescribed antibiotics and sent home. At first, it seemed the treatment was working. Ted got a bit better but a week later he still wasn’t himself.
When Ted was brought to a vet again, his gums were now pale, pointing to anemia.
A blood test confirmed that Ted had lost half of his red blood cells.
There were no signs of bleeding, either externally or internally. Something was destroying Ted's red blood cells.
All Ted's trouble started after he had the nasty tick feasting on him.
I too would want to understand the tick's involvement in the situation as it seems too strong of s coincidence.
Based on Ted's history, the vet ordered a specialized test for Babesia Canis. And sure enough, thousands of these microscopic parasites invaded Ted's red blood cells, destroying them in the process.
Ted needed an urgent special treatment to save his life as well as aggressive supportive care. Some dogs even need blood transfusions to survive.
The prognosis for a dog diagnosed with babesiosis is guarded.
Ted, however, seems to have recovered fully and is doing great.
What would have happened, though, if the veterinarian didn’t give strong consideration to his history? What would have happened if they jumped to conclusions and started treating him for autoimmune disease?
Original Story:
Ted the 7-year-old Beagle fell seriously ill from a tick
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What were the first signs you noticed? How did your dog get diagnosed? What treatment did/didn't work for you? What was your experience with your vet(s)? How did you cope with the challenges?
Email me, I'll be happy to hear from you.
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Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog is an award-winning guide to help you better understand what your dog is telling you about their health and how to best advocate for them.
Learn how to see and how to think about changes in your dog’s appearance, habits, and behavior. Some signs that might not trigger your concern can be important indicators that your dog needs to see a veterinarian right away. Other symptoms, while hard to miss, such as diarrhea, vomiting, or limping, are easy to spot but can have a laundry list of potential causes, some of them serious or even life-threatening.
Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog is a dog health advocacy guide 101. It covers a variety of common symptoms, including when each of them might be an emergency.
Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog has won the following awards:
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