Hepatozoon canis in a dog with oral pyogranulomas and neurologic disease

A ten-month-old Cocker Spaniel presented for fever, difficulty walking, and oral lesions. Muscle pain, bloody diarrhea, respiratory disease and central nervous system inflammation were found while the animal was hospitalized. Merozoites of Hepatozoon canis were discovered in association with pyogranulomas in a muscle biopsy. No other etiologic agent for the clinical signs was identified.