Babesiosis (tick-borne) disease ....sooo worried! :-(

TooTooMommy

Active member
Jun 17, 2016
200
61
Country
USA
Bulldog(s) Names
Meaty, Sophie, & sometimes fosters
PLEASE, PLEASE watch your babies for TICKS !!!!!!!!


**UPDATE 2 days later ** (6/13/20)

Our precious 9-year-old girl crashed in the critical care unit when she
stopped breathing. They intubated her, but she did not make it.
:( She had been at the specialty hospital overnight and had done FINE----her breathing did not become dangerously labored until being completely fine for 14 hours.

I had called at 4:30 in the morning to check on her, and the tech said she had been sleeping, breathing fine, and was now wide awake, looking around at all the activity. The tech also said "she is SO cute!" I was soooo happy to hear that she was doing well, and no supplemental oxygen was needed.

Besides the utter heartbreak of losing her, I feel horrible for my
hubby, who is blaming himself for not noticing that damn tick on her.
He's convinced that she was probably bitten a few days before her urine turned red, and that by then, it was too late.


Needless to say, we have cried a lot for the last 2 days, and there are times it's so shocking, it's hard to actually believe she's gone.:( We always assumed her 11-year-old brother would go first; but you
just never know.

----------------------------------------------------------------
(My original post 2 days ago)
I did a search first, to see if there are any threads about this already, but
couldn't find any. That's probably due to our vets telling us it is RARE!!!

Our sweet, 9-year-old Sophie's urine was red, and she was MILDLY panting---so we took her to the vet;
assuming it was a urinary tract infection. Nope---she had a big, engorged (yuck!) tick on her neck, and the bloodwork shows
BABESIOSIS---a rare, possibly life threatening tick-borne disease :(

She was NOT in any distress, but her MILD panting was concerning. Since it was after-hours, (they so nicely "squoze her in" at the end of the day), our pawsome vets encouraged us to take her to the emergency hospital. They said we COULD
leave her at their office overnight, but they don't have 24-7 staff, and she MIGHT need oxygen, a blood transfusion, etc. Either way, they offered to start whatever medication she required right away.


They also saw infiltrates on her lungs. Her platelets are low, and thankfully, the
ultrasound of her kidneys and bladder were okay. I read that it CAN severely
affect the liver, but none of the 3 doctors mentioned anything liver-related.


Poor Sophie---she also had her spleen removed last year, so this also lowers
her immune system, and also ( I think---not sure) effects her blood clotting properly. By the way, she only had it removed because it was very enlarged and could have burst----she did NOT have cancer or anything else serious, thank God!


One of our vets has been practicing for 35 years, and has only seen ONE other case of babesiosis !!!!!!! That's how rare it is!

Please let me know if you and/or your doggie(s) have been through this (just like LYME and other tick-borne diseases, humans can also get babesiosis. And yes, we use monthly flea/ tick prevention. Tomorrow, she will see a specialist. Our poor girl, I just hope she's not afraid, being in a cage by herself all night. I hope she doesn't end up dying overnight and we weren't there with her to comfort her --that would make this even sadder !!!! :(
 
Last edited:

ddnene

EBN's SWEETHEART aka our little GOOB
Staff member
Jun 19, 2013
14,554
1,249
Nashville, Tennessee
Country
USA
Bulldog(s) Names
Willow (2015) Walter (2014-22) Winston (2012-13) Wellie (2012-13) Bella (2007-13)
OMG... I'm SO very sorry to hear this!!! Ticks have been HORRIBLE this year, my hubby pulled one off of me about a week ago & I STILL have a spot. I contacted my doctor's office, and it seems that everything is fine...

I will have to do some research on this, and I pray that your girl is okay... please keep up posted!!!
 

ddnene

EBN's SWEETHEART aka our little GOOB
Staff member
Jun 19, 2013
14,554
1,249
Nashville, Tennessee
Country
USA
Bulldog(s) Names
Willow (2015) Walter (2014-22) Winston (2012-13) Wellie (2012-13) Bella (2007-13)
OK I just did some research... says that it can take from 7 - 21 days for a dog to show symptoms, BUT it is treatable. From what I read it depends on how long the tick was on her...

Keeping fingers crossed that NOW that she's on meds this will stop the spread, please let us know how she is doing!!!
 

helsonwheels

Well-known member
Jan 10, 2016
13,066
2,369
Alberta
Country
Canada
Bulldog(s) Names
Nyala, Jake (R.I.P. Duke)
[MENTION=16009]TooTooMommy[/MENTION] below is the recipe ive been using years for ticks/fleas/mosquitoes. Works fantastic even for humans. So if you go out for walks or hanging out outside, spray it on. A few years ago Iā€™ve met this young man in a health food store that holds my product asking me where he could find MCT oil. He must of thought I worked there but by fluke the oil was right in front of where I was standing. I asked him what he was going to use MCT for as thereā€™s 2 types. One for cooking n the one for immune system basically so I didnā€™t want him to take the wrong one. But he knew what he wanted. Thatā€™s when he told me it was for his twin sister that has LYME disease. So being curious as I am, I asked him if it truly works for Lyme. He said if it wasnā€™t for MCT oil she would still be in her wheelchair. He said she now can walk, go out for walks n functions normally. Iā€™m saying this little story as you might want to start giving MCT to your dog n one good MCT chain is the one they sell at Costco. Itā€™s a very good brand. I would only start 1/2 TEAspoon every 2 days for a week as if you give too much it can loosen stools. If not, continue for a week then gradually everyday. Just a thought.

FOR TICKS

14 oz of Witch Hazel
12 drops of Lavender
15 drops of Citronella
15 drops of Lemongrass

Put all in a spray bottle and shake.
 

2BullyMama

I'm not OCD....now who moved my bulldog?
Staff member
Community Veteran
Jul 28, 2011
48,581
3,673
Gilbertsville, PA
Country
USA
Bulldog(s) Names
Chelios (Frenchie), Nitschke (2004-2011) Banks (2005-2014) and Lambeau (2014-2024)
I did a search first, to see if there are any threads about this already, but
couldn't find any. That's probably due to our vets telling us it is RARE!!!

Our sweet, 9-year-old Sophie's urine was red, and she was MILDLY panting---so we took her to the vet;
assuming it was a urinary tract infection. Nope---she had a big, engorged (yuck!) tick on her neck, and the bloodwork shows
BABESIOSIS---a rare, possibly life threatening tick-borne disease :(

She was NOT in any distress, but her MILD panting was concerning. Since it was after-hours, (they so nicely "squoze her in" at the end of the day), our pawsome vets encouraged us to take her to the emergency hospital. They said we COULD
leave her at their office overnight, but they don't have 24-7 staff, and she MIGHT need oxygen, a blood transfusion, etc. Either way, they offered to start whatever medication she required right away.


They also saw infiltrates on her lungs. Her platelets are low, and thankfully, the
ultrasound of her kidneys and bladder were okay. I read that it CAN severely
affect the liver, but none of the 3 doctors mentioned anything liver-related.


Poor Sophie---she also had her spleen removed last year, so this also lowers
her immune system, and also ( I think---not sure) effects her blood clotting properly. By the way, she only had it removed because it was very enlarged and could have burst----she did NOT have cancer or anything else serious, thank God!


One of our vets has been practicing for 35 years, and has only seen ONE other case of babesiosis !!!!!!! That's how rare it is!

Please let me know if you and/or your doggie(s) have been through this (just like LYME and other tick-borne diseases, humans can also get babesiosis. And yes, we use monthly flea/ tick prevention. Tomorrow, she will see a specialist. Our poor girl, I just hope she's not afraid, being in a cage by herself all night. I hope she doesn't end up dying overnight and we weren't there with her to comfort her --that would make this even sadder !!!! :(

Sending lots of positive thoughts and prayers..... never heard of this and I hope you caught it early and can get her fixed up
 

Hankster

Well-known member
Community Veteran
Aug 27, 2016
4,496
88
Country
US
Bulldog(s) Names
hank
This is awful to hear. Sounds like some good advice here ... keep in touch
 
OP
TooTooMommy

TooTooMommy

Active member
Jun 17, 2016
200
61
Country
USA
Bulldog(s) Names
Meaty, Sophie, & sometimes fosters
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #7
Thank you, everybully who replied. I updated my OP---she is gone. :(
 

helsonwheels

Well-known member
Jan 10, 2016
13,066
2,369
Alberta
Country
Canada
Bulldog(s) Names
Nyala, Jake (R.I.P. Duke)
Thank you, everybully who replied. I updated my OP---she is gone. :(


OMG Iā€™m so so sorry for your lost. Iā€™ve been through this intubated a year ago with my little Duke. Never easy to get over our lost.

Very sorry. :(

DECDA0A7-3BDA-4121-9B32-4EE95D51C649.jpeg
 

ddnene

EBN's SWEETHEART aka our little GOOB
Staff member
Jun 19, 2013
14,554
1,249
Nashville, Tennessee
Country
USA
Bulldog(s) Names
Willow (2015) Walter (2014-22) Winston (2012-13) Wellie (2012-13) Bella (2007-13)
Thank you, everybully who replied. I updated my OP---she is gone. :(

I just saw your update... I'm SO very sorry for your loss. I have to say this is the first time I've ever heard of this happening, and I'm in complete shock. Please tell your hubby that it's not his fault... unfortunately things happen, and why would you even think a tick bite could do this. RIP Sweet Sophie :heart:
 

2BullyMama

I'm not OCD....now who moved my bulldog?
Staff member
Community Veteran
Jul 28, 2011
48,581
3,673
Gilbertsville, PA
Country
USA
Bulldog(s) Names
Chelios (Frenchie), Nitschke (2004-2011) Banks (2005-2014) and Lambeau (2014-2024)
Thank you, everybully who replied. I updated my OP---she is gone. :(

Iā€™m stunned! So very sorry she has passed. It is no fault of any of you, those ticks are small and hardly ever notice. Please be good yourselves... she had a great loving life and will always make you smile from all the memories


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

Most Reactions

šŸ“° Latest posts

Members online

Top