Babesiosis

Babesia is a protozoal parasite carried by certain species of ticks. It is injected into the body when ticks start to feed, and invades red blood cells. This can lead to life threatening anaemia, shock, jaundice, organ failure and immune mediated complications. It can affect cats and dogs but tends to only cause serious disease in dogs.

Babesia is currently seen all through Europe, United States (mostly Southern states), Africa and Asia.

https://www.esccap.org/travelling-pets-advice/
Symptoms
  • sudden onset of severe anaemia, with symptoms ranging from lethargy to collapse
  • the gums can be pale pink or yellow
  • dark brownish- red urine
  • fever, inappetence
  • some dogs have develop a slow, chronic form that can mimic many other diseases. It is worth telling your vet if you have travelled abroad in the weeks or months before vague symptoms of ill health become apparent.
A tick on a cat’s ear, these can be very small initially and grow bigger as they feed.
Prevention
  • There are several spot-on and tablet forms of medication to deter ticks from attaching to your pet and to kill them. These should be started at least a week before travel to an area where Babesia exists, and at least one treatment is needed after returning to the U.K. The Travelling Pet Vet can advise specifically depending on where you are headed and your risk level. Many products licensed for use in dogs are highly toxic for cats, please only use products as advised.
  • Check your pets daily for ticks, especially after walks in long grass or wooded areas. Face, ears, belly, groin and feet are hot spots for ticks, but they can occur anywhere. Run your fingers against the direction the fur normally lies to see down to skin level, ticks can be very small initially and grow larger as they feed.
  • Get to know your pet’s normal skin. Know where their nipples and little skin tags lie, so these aren’t inadvertently injured by attempted removal.
  • Ticks should be removed as soon as possible, including the mouth parts. Tick hooks are the easiest way to do this, do not use heat or petroleum jelly to make them detach. Remove them with steady, even pressure to avoid leaving the mouth parts in the skin.
  • Affected skin and your own hands can then be cleaned with soap and water.
  • Do not crush a tick between your fingers. They can be disposed of by placing them in alcohol, wrapping in a sealed bag or they can be flushed down the toilet.