Babesiosis: Understanding Tick-Borne Illness in Dogs and How to Protect Them

 

Understanding Babesiosis: Symptoms, Prevention, and Treatment for Dog Parents

As a dog parent, you want to keep your furry friend happy and healthy. However, there are several illnesses that can affect dogs, and one of them is babesiosis. Babesiosis is a tick-borne illness that can cause serious health problems for dogs. In this article, we will discuss what babesiosis is, its symptoms, prevention measures, and recommended products for dog parents.

What is Babesiosis?

Babesiosis is a tick-borne illness caused by the parasite Babesia. The parasite is transmitted to dogs through the bite of infected ticks, mainly the brown dog tick and the American dog tick. Babesiosis is more commonly found in warmer regions of the United States, but it can occur anywhere that ticks are prevalent. The disease can be fatal, especially in dogs with weakened immune systems.

Symptoms of Babesiosis

Babesiosis symptoms can vary from mild to severe, depending on the severity of the infection. Some common symptoms of babesiosis in dogs include:

• Loss of appetite
• Weakness and lethargy
• Fever
• Pale gums
• Dark urine
• Rapid heartbeat
• Anemia
• Jaundice

If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, it is essential to take them to the veterinarian immediately.

Prevention of Babesiosis

The best way to prevent babesiosis in dogs is to take preventative measures against ticks. Here are some ways to prevent ticks:

• Keep your lawn trimmed short to minimize tick habitat.
• Check your dog for ticks regularly, especially after they have been outdoors.
• Use tick-preventative medications, such as topical treatments or oral medications.
• Consider using tick-repellent products, such as tick collars or sprays.
• Use tick-proof bedding for your dog.
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Recommended Products for Babesiosis Prevention

As a dog parent, you want to provide your furry friend with the best possible protection against tick-borne illnesses like babesiosis. Here are some recommended products that can help prevent ticks and protect your dog:

• Furaland Chewable Tablets: These oral tablets are administered once every three months and provide effective protection against ticks.
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• Seresto Flea and Tick Collar: This collar provides up to eight months of continuous protection against fleas and ticks, including the brown dog tick and the American dog tick.
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• K9 Advantix II: This topical treatment is applied once a month and provides protection against fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes.
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• PetArmor Plus for Dogs: This topical treatment provides protection against fleas, ticks, and lice for up to 30 days.
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• TickCheck Tick Remover Tool: This tool makes it easy to remove ticks from your dog's skin safely.

Treatment of Babesiosis

If your dog is diagnosed with babesiosis, your veterinarian will prescribe appropriate treatment, which may include medications such as antiprotozoal drugs, antibiotics, and blood transfusions. Treatment is most effective when started early, so it is crucial to seek veterinary care promptly.

Conclusion

Babesiosis is a serious tick-borne illness that can cause severe health problems for dogs. Prevention is key to keeping your furry friend safe, so take the necessary precautions against ticks, such as using preventative medications and tick-repellent products. If you notice any symptoms of babesiosis in your dog, seek veterinary care immediately. With proper prevention and treatment, you can help protect your dog from this dangerous disease.

FAQs

1. Can humans get babesiosis from their dogs? No, babesiosis is not considered a zoonotic disease, which means it cannot be transmitted from dogs to humans.

2. Is babesiosis contagious between dogs? No, babesiosis is not

Photo Credit: Craiyon.com

Say hello to Kimber Reign

 

Kimber Reign Lily Bee

Such a long name for a little girl. Kimber is a product of Queenie and Kingsley, thus the "Reign" for a middle name since her parents both have royal names. 

Kimber is a sweetheart, she's never met anyone she doesn't love, and she will promptly lick you to prove it. She's also quite clever and patient, she'll wait for everyone else to drop what she wants to play with and then run over and steal it. Sometimes she also creates distractions so she can steal what she wants from the other dogs. When you're not alpha, you need to be creative.

Kimber's Stats:

• AKC
• 19 pounds
• Can leap tall buildings
• Very loving
• Has a heart-shaped spot on her belly
• Born 5-28-2022
• Health tested
• JHC clear

Boston Terrier Puppy Waiting List for 2023

Kimber & Remi

This year Queenie, Pistol, Remi, and Dottie will have puppies, and we are waiting for Kimber to get to the age of maturity to have puppies as well. 

While we wait for our girls to come into heat we have decided to gather up names on a waiting list.  (It's already filling up fast!)

A waiting list is not a commitment, it's simply an opportunity to be contacted with information about the puppies.  If you decide to commit to a puppy, you can let us know and we can go from there.  

Send us a quick email:

TheBTWoofPack@gmail.com

Or you can simply watch our antics on Instagram:

Kingsley Bee & Woof Pack (@kingsley.bee) • Instagram photos and videos

3 Boston Terrier males left in Remi's litter

Who can resist these 3 adorable faces? 

*Update*.... All puppies are currently in homes with their wonderful families. We are now taking names and numbers for the 2023 waiting list. You can contact us at: 

TheBTWoofPack or by leaving a comment below.

Meet Archer...

Archer is a lover.  He genuinely loves people and is always looking for love. His tail is always wagging and he has a happy bright attitude. Archer loves toys but is more curious about people than inanimate objects. Archer would be best suited for a household full of people, or people who love to entertain because this guy has so much love to give.

Here's Samson...

Samson is quite the cuddler.  When I pull him to me he naturally snuggles up to my neck and gives me kisses. He's very playful and can keep himself entertained when you are busy. Samson also loves other dogs and isn't the least bit intimidated by bigger dogs.  Samson is very alert and watchful of his surroundings. 

Hello Finlay...

Finlay has a sweet temperament and is always down for a cuddle. He also loves toys and is very curious about what kitchen cupboard knobs are. Finlay is the shyest of the group, but don't let that fool you, he's very loveable and plays well with other dogs. 

You can email me at thebtwoofpack@gmail.com if you have questions.  We are located in Michigan.

Asking for a lower price etiquette

Recently we both had an offer for $500. for one of our puppies, I thought I would address this publicly. 

When a price is set by the breeder, we really do want the price that we offered the puppy to you.  However, we realize that not every unique home such as yours can afford the pup. In that case, we do sometimes make a rare exception and accept a lower rate, or maybe a lower rate with an exchange of service from you. doing so does not mean that our puppies are not worth the price that we are asking for, we are just recognizing that you are the best thing for our puppy and we want you to have the love that you deserve.  

With that being said...

Rules for asking for a lower rate on a purebred puppy

1. Do not insult us with a rate of half of the asking price unless you have an amazing offer to spice up the deal.
2. Do not ask us to drive 8 hours to drop off the puppy at our cost when you are already asking us to lower our price. You really should expect to drive to us if you are asking for a lower price.
3. Do not ask us for breeding rights in addition to a lower rate puppy. We typically ask for $500. more for breeding rights in addition to the full price.
4. Do not insist that our puppies are worth less than the puppy mill down the road. 
   
   
   

Why do we ask the price we do when selling our puppies?

1. Vet prices have gone from $100. a visit to $400. We are not going to ask our veterinarians to lower their prices because their service is valued by us. Healthy puppies are an essential aspect of our breeding program, it isn't something we would ever consider skimping on. 
2. Dog food prices have gone up considerably. Have you looked at the cost lately? A once $14. bag of food is now $32. Do you have any idea how much food a puppy can eat? Just because puppies are small does not mean they can't put away a considerable amount of food until they go to their forever homes.
3. Speaking of food prices, you do realize that whatever goes into puppies comes out? Puppy pads are a necessity. They cost about $30. per 100 pads. It's not unusual to go through that entire box of 100 in a week. 
4. Our biggest expense is "us"... we spend a considerable amount of time every single day cleaning (often 2-3 hours a day), cuddling, playing, etc. with your puppy.  Our care of your puppies doesn't come close to the value we are receiving, we do that out of love for what we do, but on the same token, we do deserve at least a little bit for the care we give. 
5. Licenses, depending on what type of license we order for the puppies (AKC is the highest cost), it isn't free. We have to pay for it when we register a litter.
6. Leashes, tools, toys, puppy bags to go home with the pups, shampoo (they get dirty a lot!), etc. all add up.
7. Do you realize that when our puppies are born they aren't always born on the weekends? We often have to take time off of work to birth them and take them to the veterinarian for care. That means lost wages. How often can you take time off of work with no pay? 

So please keep this in mind when you offer a lower price. Be kind and at least offer a service or be creative if you ask. 

Thank you!

Pistols Birth Story

We have been waiting patiently for Pistol to have puppies for a bit. She seemed like she was going to give birth early so we were on alert more than a week ahead of schedule.

 

Finally, the day had arrived, and Pistol’s first clue to her imminent delivery was her panting heavily.

 

I had the puppy room all ready to go. The pool was in place with receiving blankets, a nose aspirator, scissors, and baby wipes are all tools I utilize during a birthing.

 

The lightbulb over the pool was the only light on, providing warmth for the wet, newborn puppies.

 

I sat with her for a couple hours before she finally started to have contractions with her first puppy. I could see her water bag and 2 little puppy feet sticking out.

 

It took her about 20 minutes to actually start having strong contractions. I was a little nervous, this being her first litter.

 

The puppy was coming soon. It was a tight fit for the first puppy, and I assisted by grabbing the puppy's hips and gently applying firm, downward pressure. Only when Pistol was having contractions at the same time.

 

Out he popped! And I scrambled for the aspirator and suctioned his nose and mouth out.

 

The first puppy was breathing and looked good. I waited about 10 minutes before I cut the cord. I always try to let my moms chew it off, but her being a first-time mom, she didn’t want to focus on the cord.

 

The first puppy presented without a problem, and I crossed my fingers that the others would as well.

 

7 hours later... Pistol had 6 puppies total! All Black and white with most of them having white faces. 4 boys, and 2 girls, all healthy.

 

Pistol is a great mom, and she took care of each puppy as it was born.

 

I’m very thankful for the healthy puppies that we have each time.

And having a great birthing experience is a great way to start our puppies off in this life ❤️

Leave a comment below if you'd like to have one of these beautiful puppies.

And then there was one

Scout, as loveable as he is, still is looking for his forever home. 

• He walks well on a leash
• Loves to give kisses
• Is gentle
• He almost never barks
• Loves to play
• Loves people of all ages
• Working on his potty training skills
• Has his AKC papers
• Comes with a puppy goody bag

You won't find a better Boston terrier puppy at such a bargain price. Email us, or find us on Facebook and text us there for a price.