Lungworm Warning

[sally]

Saw an article in a local paper and thought I would share,

"dog owners are being warned to stop their pets scoffing slugs and snails in order to avoid a life threatening parasitic worm living inside the slimy creatures.
two dogs in feltham and addlestone have died after becoming infected with lungworm and several more suspected cases are being treated
symptoms can take years to develop but may eventually include coughing, depression, vomiting, diarrhoea, prolonged bleeding, fits, weight loss and exercise intolerance
some animals will die from severe bleeding or end up with permanent brain or lung damage

incidents so far suggest young dogs are particularly at risk as are greyhounds caveleir king charles spaniels and staffordshire bull terriers
to protect your dog the vets reccomend using a special wormer and keeping your garden as slug and snail free as possible
vets suspect that this problem is spreading across the south east of england and will eventually become endemic "



Not very nice, I know that Milbamax is effective at cleansing these parasites and that Drontal does not get rid of lungworm but is effective against all other parasites.

There are a few sites that sell Drontal over the net but milbamax can only be got with a vet's prescription or from the vet direct.

[Shakka-Staffs]

MY GARDENS FULL OF SLUGS HERES SOME MORE INFO ON THEM


Lungworms are a type of parasite that can infect the respiratory tract. There are several different parasites that have been identified including: Paragonimus kellicotti, Capillaria aerophilia, Filaroides and Osleri spp.

Outdoor pets in certain geographic areas of North America and elsewhere are predisposed to respiratory parasites. Infection typically occurs from exposure to the hosts that carry the parasite.

The lung fluke (Paragonimus) is found near lakes that harbor the intermediate host (crayfish and snails) or the raccoons that eat them. Dogs that hunt and eat raccoon meat may be at risk.

The tracheal (windpipe) worm Osleri osleri is directly transmitted from the mother to pup.

Clinically important infections occur most often in younger animals, those less than two years old, that are heavily infested.

Section: Information In-depth

Infection of the respiratory tree is in some ways similar to infection of the stomach and intestines by gastrointestinal parasites like roundworms or hookworms, although it is less common. The lungworm injures the airways or lung tissue by inciting an inflammatory reaction. The parasites live and reproduce in the respiratory tissues.

Dogs acquire lungworms by eating one of the "hosts" that serve the lungworm during part of its life cycle. The life cycle of the different parasites can be complicated, involving both intermediate hosts and transport hosts.

The summary of specific lugworms parasites, the species each affects, the lifecycle of each and the geographical distribution of each is as follows:



Paragonimus kellicotti affects dogs and during its lifecycle, the intermediate hosts are the crayfish and snail. The transport host is the raccoon. The geographical distribution is North America.

Section: Veterinary Care In-depth

Veterinary care should include diagnostic tests and subsequent treatment recommendations.

Diagnosis In-depth

Diagnostic tests are needed to recognize lungworms and exclude other diseases. Tests may include:



A complete medical history and physical examination


Thoracic radiographs (chest X-rays) to exclude other causes of coughing. Some lungworm infections lead to characteristic or suggestive changes in the lungs.


Fecal examination for ova or larvae. These are not your typical intestinal worms and special methods called sedimentation techniques may be needed to find the microscopic ova (eggs) or offspring (larvae).


A heartworm test should be done to exclude the presence of intestinal worms because the symptoms are similar.

Additional diagnostic tests may be recommended on an individual pet basis, including:


Examination of respiratory secretions for ova or larvae.

Section: Follow-up

Optimal treatment for the pet with lungworms requires a combination of home care and professional veterinary care. Follow-up can be critical. Administer all prescribed medication and be certain to alert your veterinarian if you are experiencing problems treating your pet.

Minimize the chance of reoccurrence by eliminating exposure to host. Prevent your pet from hunting or scavenging infected crayfish or snails.

Repeat chest X-rays are suggested in about two and four weeks to assess improvement. Recheck a fecal sample to monitor for further development of larvae or ova in two to four weeks.

The prognosis is good for full recovery, unless the problem has been ignored or untreated for many months (or years), in which case permanent lung scar tissue may form. If severe changes have occurred to the lungs, a residual cough may be present.

[sambo]

wow never thought it wuld bring that much harm cheers shakk