Outcome and follow-up:
On day 4 of hospitalization the nasogastric tube was removed, and the
dog was discharged with amoxicillin/clavulanate (14 mg/kg PO q 12 h;
Clavamox, Zoetis), maropitant (1 mg/kg PO q 24 h; Cerenia, Zoetis), and
doxycycline (5 mg/kg PO q 12 h). The airway culture was positive for low
numbers of oropharyngeal contaminants (quantitatively reported as
“few”), so amoxicillin/clavulanate was continued for a total of 7
days. The Babesia PCR testing was positive for Babesia
canis vogeli . Fourteen days after the initial imidocarb injection, the
dog was represented for recheck and was clinically well. A CBC showed
improved regenerative anemia, resolved thrombocytopenia and
leukocytosis, and no Babesia organisms (see Table 1). A second
dose of imidocarb (6.6 mg/kg IM) was given without any adverse events.
The dog had complete resolution of disease and was still doing well
three months later.