Babesiosis

How Obscure Is Babesiosis Really? Mika’s Story

When I was writing about Ted’s Babesiosis, I kept wondering how obscure this tick-borne disease really is. Mika was treated right around the corner, at a specialty hospital we used to go to. Mika is a 6-year-old Great Dane. Beautiful, lovable, energetic. She was adopted from the US several years ago and only brought her family love and joy. She ended up…

by Jana Rade

Babesiosis in a Dog: Ted’s Story

Babesiosis is a tick-borne infection. It is not a bacteria, however, it is a protozoal parasite. This parasite invades red blood cells resulting in anemia. Your dog can contract this disease from multiple species of ticks. Ted is a happy, active, bright and alert Beagle. He’s always been well taken care of, vaccinated and on a flea/tick preventive. With his…

by Jana Rade

Jana Rade

I am a graphic designer by day, dog health advocate, dog writer, member of the Dog Writers Association of America, and an award-winning author in my spare time. Jasmine, the Rottweiler of my life, was the largest female from her litter. We thought we were getting a healthy dog. Getting a puppy from a backyard breeder was our first mistake. Endless veterinary visits without a diagnosis or useful treatment later, I realized that I had to take Jasmine's health care into my own hands. I learned the hard way that simply seeing a vet is not always enough. There is more to finding a good vet than finding the closest clinic down the street. And, sadly, there is more to advocating for your dog's health than visiting a veterinarian. It should be enough, but it often is not. With Jasmine, it took five years to finally get a diagnosis for her initial issue. Unfortunately, other problems had snowballed for that in the meantime. Jasmine's health challenges became a crash course in understanding dog health issues and how to go about getting a proper diagnosis and treatment. I had to learn, and I had to learn fast. Helping others through my challenges and experience has become my mission and Jasmine's legacy. I now try to help people recognize and understand signs of illness in their dogs, how to work with their veterinarian, and when to seek a second opinion. My goal is to use 20 years of hard-earned experience to save others from the steep curve of having to learn things the hard way, as I did.

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