Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Muscle breakdown in dogs with babesiosis infection
By Jacobson, L S & Lobetti, R G·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·1996·Department of Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Rhabdomyolysis as a complication of canine babesiosis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Two dogs with babesiosis, a tick-borne disease, developed serious muscle problems. The first dog showed signs of muscle pain and had dark, caramel-colored urine, along with high levels of muscle enzymes in its blood. Unfortunately, this dog also suffered from kidney failure. The second dog experienced muscle pain, tremors, and breathing difficulties, but sadly passed away shortly after arriving at the vet. Both cases highlight the potential for severe muscle damage and complications from babesiosis, which can be life-threatening.
People also search for: dog muscle pain and dark urine · babesiosis in dogs symptoms · treatment for dog kidney failure · canine rhabdomyolysis causes
Abstract
Rhabdomyolysis was diagnosed in two dogs with babesiosis. The first animal presented with muscle pain and caramel-coloured urine, and had markedly elevated serum myoglobin and muscle enzymes. Acute renal failure complicated the clinical picture. The second dog exhibited muscle pain and tremors, together with neurological signs and pulmonary oedema, and died soon after admission. Muscle necrosis and haemorrhage were found at necropsy. In human malaria, a disease clinically similar to canine babesiosis, rhabdomyolysis is unusual, but clinically silent muscle damage appears to be common. Likewise, biochemical evidence of muscle damage is readily found in experimental bovine babesiosis. Muscle enzymes were mildly elevated in three dogs with severe babesiosis and pigmenturia but there was no obvious muscle damage, indicating that this might also apply to canine babesiosis. The pathogenesis of infection-associated rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure remains unclear, but inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide could play an important role.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8965483/