Evaluation of the effect of whole-blood transfusion on the oxygen status and acid-base balance of Babesia canis infected dogs using the oxygen status algorithm.

The usefulness of whole-blood transfusion in normalising the blood-gas, acid-base, and arterial oxygen status in severe babesiosis was demonstrated in 6 severely affected Babesia canis infected dogs. These dogs all demonstrated a metabolic acidosis at admission and yet were not acidaemic. It is possible that this may reflect a mixed acid-base disorder (metabolic acidosis with respiratory alkalosis). They all showed severe hypoxaemia at admission. A number of derived blood-gas and acid-base parameters as determined by the Oxygen Status Algorithm (OSA) were shown to be a superior way of assessing and monitoring the temporal response of severe babesiosis cases to blood transfusion. It was shown that fresh whole-blood transfusion is a safe and physiological way of reversing acid-base and blood-gas derangements associated with severe babesiosis in dogs. Intravenous alkalinisation with sodium bicarbonate for the treatment of the metabolic acidosis of babesiosis is questioned.