Natural cases of Babesia canis infection in Nigerian dogs were encountered over a two‐year period. Over 70 per cent of the dogs were less than or equal to one year of age. The hyperacute and acute forms of the disease were encountered in dogs as young as four weeks. The acute form of the disease was most common. Consistent clinical signs of the acute form included abnormal appetite, lethargy, fever, anaemia, generalised lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, emaciation and icterus. Anaemia was of the regenerative type in all cases while neutrophilic leucocytosis was mainly observed in hyperacute cases. Four dogs with hyperacute disease died despite treatment while all other dogs recovered following single dose (3–5 mg/kg) treatment with diminazene aceturate. The results of this study indicate that hyperacute babesiosis in dogs should be considered more frequently by veterinarians.

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