Hepatozoon canis infection is treated with imidocarb dipropionate at 5-6 mg/kg every 14 days until parasites are no longer present in blood smears. Oral doxycyline at 10 mg/kg/day for 21 days is also used in combination with imidocarb dipropionate. Elimination of H. canis from peripheral blood may require treatment for eight weeks.

H. americanum infection is treated with a combination oral therapy of trimethoprim/sulpha (15 mg/kg every 12 hours), pyrimethamine (0.25 mg/kg every 24 hours), and clindamycine (10 mg/kg every 8 hours). After remission of clinical signs is attained, therapy can be prolonged with the oral administration of the coccidiostat decoquinate at 10-20 mg/kg mixed into the food every 12 hours. Relapse of clinical signs commonly follows the discontinuation of treatment. Supportive therapy with NSAIDs is effective in relieving pain and fever.

Further information

• Baneth, G.: Hepatozoonosis. In: Arthropod-borne Diseases. BSAVA Congress, Birmingham, Scientific Proceedings, 2002 (Download)