Piroplasmosis in dogs: symptoms, diagnosis, treatment of the disease

If you find a tick attached to the dog's body, you should immediately contact a veterinary clinic for emergency help. This way you will not only ease the course of the disease, but also prevent death. At the Drug veterinary clinic, you can undergo a full examination for babesiosis. Where do ticks live? Many people believe that ticks are found only in parks, forests and squares with dense vegetation. However, even in courtyards, you can pick up a bloodsucker. According to statistics, ticks that carry pyroplasmosis live mainly in places where a large number of dogs live.

Therefore, be careful when walking. Always check your pet for ticks upon arrival at home. They often stick to areas where the skin is more delicate and thin: the chest, stomach, ears, or neck. The clinical picture of pyroplasmosis is that the incubation period takes place in each pet individually. Its duration is influenced by the following factors: the presence of vaccinations or the use of other protective drugs, the breed and age of the pet, the state of immunity, the strain and the number of parasites that have penetrated the hematopoietic system. The primary symptoms manifest themselves after 30-48 hours. The course of the disease may vary depending on the case. Acute pyroplasmosis is usually found in dogs that have not had it before. A characteristic symptom is an increased body temperature (about 42 degrees). If the indicators have decreased, but the pet remains sluggish, refuses to eat and does not show the same activity, it is necessary to seek help. These symptoms indicate a latent period, which is fraught with the onset of a more dangerous stage of the disease. The clinical picture of acute pyroplasmosis is as follows: the pet has no appetite, no external reactions, rapid breathing and shortness of breath, palpitations, yellowness of the mucous membrane of the eyes and mouth. Also, in the acute course of the disease, the hemoglobin level in the dog's urine becomes higher, and therefore its color becomes dark brown or even black. Chronic pyroplasmosis occurs in pets with strong immune systems or previous illnesses.

The following symptoms are observed: constant fatigue and passivity, lack of appetite, fever (usually lasts for several days), high probability of stool disorders. If symptoms are detected, you should not delay. It is better to contact a veterinarian immediately for consultation and examination. If you start the disease, complications or even death may occur. Why is it important to treat pyroplasmosis in a timely manner? Pyroplasmosis is an insidious disease. The symptoms do not manifest themselves immediately. The incubation period lasts from several days to 2-3 weeks. If you do not start treatment on time, your pet's health will rapidly deteriorate, and the disease will affect the liver and kidneys. Important! According to statistics, advanced pyroplasmosis without timely treatment leads to death in 98% of clinical cases. The disease develops quite quickly, every hour counts. If you find any symptoms, we recommend that you proceed as follows. Contact a veterinary clinic to have a blood test for pyroplasmosis.

The clinical picture is similar to other ailments (jaundice and viral hepatitis), so they should be excluded. The test results may be negative even if babesia is present in the blood. Therefore, it is better to take a PCR analysis for more accurate information. If the pet is in critical condition, you should take it to the clinic. The veterinarian will provide a cleansing drip and an injection for pyroplasmosis. Next, the pet will undergo the necessary set of procedures to improve its condition. At the discretion of the doctor, it is sometimes necessary to take samples for analysis. If the test results confirm the diagnosis, the veterinarian will prescribe special medications and a therapeutic course. Why is self-treatment of pyroplasmosis dangerous? The basis for the treatment of pyroplasmosis is special injections that destroy parasites in the pet's blood. However, any drug has a toxic effect on the dog's body. Therefore, do not self-administer medications until the diagnosis is confirmed. Otherwise, irreversible complications may occur, including the loss of a pet. The treatment of pyroplasmosis consists of two stages. Diagnosis This includes the collection of symptoms, epizootic data (the presence of a bloodsucker on the skin) and laboratory diagnostics (blood smear and urine analysis). Treatment The veterinarian primarily destroys the pathogen with the help of special drugs. Next, it is necessary to carry out de-intoxication and take care of the recovery of the body. Medications for the cardiovascular system, vitamins and saline solutions are prescribed. Preventive measures To protect your pet from ticks, it is recommended to use insect-acaricidal drugs. They are sold in the form of aerosols, drops, collars, hygiene products and tablets. Pyroplasmosis vaccination also works well. These drugs will not provide full protection, but they will reduce the risk of the disease and ease its course, preventing serious consequences.