Say what, I know, that’s what I said too. Therefore, here is the medical description taken from the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine website…
Hepatozoon americanum / canis
Canine hepatozoonosis is an emerging protozoal tick-borne disease of dogs that has been reported in the United States of Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Florida. The causative agent of canine hepatozoonosis in North America is Hepatozoon americanum. It induces severe myositis and gait abnormalities, and is transmitted to dogs (the intermediate host) through the definitive host, Amblyomma maculatum. Another species is H. canis that causes a similar disease on dogs outside of North America. Transmission occurs when a dog ingests an infected tick, and then the organisms are released and invade canine host cells, where asexual reproduction and multiplication occur through schiziogony (Ewing & Panciera, 2003).
I know, I know, that’s not much clearer either is it? In English it says that Canine hepatozoonosis is a parasitic tick-borne disease that is effecting dogs in North America. It induces severe muscle soreness due to inflammation, which cause gait abnormalities, and is transmitted to dogs from the ingestion of an infected tick. Once ingested, the organisms (infected tick) are released into the ingestion system of the canine host, where asexual reproduction and multiplication occur.
Here are the clinical signs of an infected dog taken from the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine website…
Clinical Signs
Infected dogs usually exhibit a waxing and waning course of recurrent fever spikes, muscle pain, and progressive debilitation for up to several months. In the later stages, dogs develop proteinuria and renal failure secondary to immunoproliferative glomerulonephritis (Ewing & Panciera, 2003). Death may occur 12 months after ingestion of the infected tick without treatment.
Meet Jake
About 5 years ago, Julia was in search of a Border collie and wanted to find a dog through rescue. She knew someone in the area that did Border collie rescue so they met for lunch one day and was told about a very cute Border collie that was looking for a forever home.
When Julia met Jake for the first time, his coat was still a bit bleached out from being kept outside. His history was and is somewhat of a mystery to this day and the only thing known is that he was a backyard dog and was in 2 shelters before Border collie rescue rescued him. Julia decided to take Jake and “He has from day one been the most amazing dog with a most wonderful approach to life and has been the noble BC to a tee.”
Julia trained Jake for obedience and flyball, and he was transformed into an exceptional athlete. To this day, his number one love is flyball. At the height of his game, he always ran 4.0 second heats and could run in any position. His personality is such that he has trained many a green dog the game of flyball.
About three years into his flyball career, Julia noticed Jake was dropping off in speed and she could tell that there was something wrong with him. He just wasn’t his self but he still ran around with the other dogs but not like, he had. Julia took Jake to the vet and after some tests; she was told that there was nothing wrong with him. She didn’t believe the vet because she knew Jake and something was definitely wrong with him. She was persistent and wanted an answer even if the tests didn’t show anything.
Julia’s vet eventually succumbed to her persistence and referred Jake to Auburn University Veterinary Medical School. Auburn took Jake in, kept him in the hospital, and ran a gamut of tests. Jake was finally diagnosed with Canine Hepatozoonosis. Julia’s first question was, “Is it curable?” In most dogs, it’s not, but if caught and diagnosed early there is a very good chance of complete recovery. Jake has been on an antimicrobial used in cattle for the last 2 years and has had only one flare up about a year and a half ago, and we are hopeful that he is cured. During this coming year, Jake will make the trip back to Auburn for more tests and we hope the news is good.
What Can You Do?
We all know our dogs and the way they act. If you notice, any sign of stiffness or discomfort in your dog that is out of the ordinary, take your dog to the vet and be persistent if you know there is something wrong even if your vet doesn’t. This is a relatively new problem and there may be some vets that are not familiar with it so have your dog tested. Auburn has taken the lead on this and has a blood test that can diagnose this along with other diseases. Tell your vet that blood samples can be sent using the Molecular Diagnostics form here.
Finally, just because you give you dog flea and tick preventive, don’t think this can’t happen with your dog. If your dog eats grass like most do, tick prevention will not help. If your dog ingests an infected tick all the prevention in the world will not help. So watch and be mindful.
Larry
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That is my little hero! I am hoping to take Jake to be tested in the next few weeks for the all clear. Larry did an excellent job of describing the disease in the early stages. I drove my vet nuts! “There’s something wrong.” “Does he play,” asked the vet. P-L-E-A-S-E!!!! We all know BC’s They will do their job until they drop, weather it’s a game of Disc, herding the JRTs around the house or playing Flyball. So if your pup doesn’t seem just right to you and you live in the SE, please have your friend tested. Caught early enough, it can have a good outcome. Caught too late, it will attack the heart and kidneys.
Another note. The disesase was actually brought to the US by the military dogs during the Vietnam War. The strain the Asian tick carries is much less virulent than the transmuted form the Gulf Coast tick now carries. Another catch? The disease can lay dormant for quite sometime after initial infection. It isn’t until the “cysts” that contain the parasite in the muscle tissue rupture and are released into the blood stream and cause an episode, that you will have any clue there’s a problem.
For the past 2 years I have commuted to Auburn to get Jake’s medicine, an additive for cattle feeds, about every 3 months. I am hoping to go one last time for a final blood test. Jake was actually part of a study that was done to develop the blood test. Until then, muscle biopsies were required. Jake had both the blood test and the biopsy done. The vet from Auburn would call each time about tests they were running and kept commenting on how they were going to have to shave part of his “lovely coat.” Lovely coat…In other words, Jake still had the look of perfect health to those who didn’t know him.
As Larry noted, at least to me, Jake is the most noble dog I have ever shared my home with. He has my total heart and soul. I am eagerly awaiting the “all clear.”
Thanks
Julia
Thanks for the update, Julia. Let us all know how it goes this next test.
Thanks Julia for this important info. My prayers are with you and Jake. In addition to training a lot of green dogs, Jake trained a lot of green handlers including me. He was the first dog that I ran in flyball and he made me look good. He is an awesome Border Collie.
Werner
I know few comments were made on this topic. But I thought I would give you guys an update just the same. Jake went to Auburn and was checked from stim to stern. Though A POUND (I admit shamefully) overweight he came up all clear!
Jake sends sloppy kissses to all!
Awesome!
Happy New Year!
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