Biliary in Dogs: The Signs Every South African Owner Should Know

What biliary actually is

Biliary, properly called canine babesiosis, is caused by a microscopic parasite carried by ticks. Once transmitted, it invades red blood cells and destroys them from inside.

The result is anaemia. As red cells are destroyed faster than the body can replace them, oxygen delivery to the tissues fails. In severe cases the breakdown products damage the kidneys, liver and brain.

It is present across South Africa and is one of the most common serious infectious diseases in dogs here. A tick needs to be attached for a period before transmission occurs, which is why prompt tick removal genuinely helps.

The early signs

• Lethargy — a dog that is simply flat, and not itself
• Loss of appetite, often the very first thing owners notice
• Pale gums, from healthy pink towards white or grey
• Fever, though owners rarely detect this at home
• Dark, orange or red-brown urine
• Yellowing of the gums or the whites of the eyes

The earliest signs are frustratingly vague. A quiet dog that skipped breakfast is the classic presentation. If your dog has had tick exposure and is off, that is enough reason to go.

Check the gums

Lift your dog’s lip and look at the gum above a canine tooth. Healthy gums are bubblegum pink. Press with your thumb until the spot goes white, then release — colour should return within two seconds.

Pale, white, grey or yellow gums, or a refill time longer than two seconds, means go now. This is the single most useful thing you can check at home and it takes five seconds.

Diagnosis and treatment

Diagnosis is usually a blood smear read under the microscope, which can be done in the practice within minutes, alongside a red cell count. It is a cheap, fast test.

Treatment is an injectable parasiticide, supportive care, and in severe cases intravenous fluids and a blood transfusion. Caught early it is often an outpatient visit costing R1,200 to R3,000. Caught late it can run past R20,000 and still be lost.

Prevention

Year-round tick control, not just in summer. Ticks are active in South Africa across the whole year, with peaks in the warm wet months.

Modern chewable or spot-on products are far more reliable than dips and collars. Ask your vet which product suits your area and your dog’s weight.

Check your dog physically after walks in long grass or bush, particularly around the ears, neck, armpits and between the toes. Removing a tick before it has fed for long reduces the risk.

A vaccine exists in South Africa but it reduces severity rather than preventing infection. It is not a substitute for tick control.