Babesiosis is a tick-borne protozoan disease causing haemolytic anaemia in dogs, with its European distribution expanding northward as tick populations spread with climate warming.
Babesiosis causes severe haemolytic anaemia with acute welfare impacts including weakness, collapse and respiratory distress. Without prompt treatment mortality rates are significant. Welfare priorities include tick prevention using licensed acaricidal products, prompt veterinary treatment of suspected cases with imidocarb and supportive care, and blood transfusion for severely anaemic dogs.