By Fintan Browne, veterinary surgeon in Blanchardstown Veterinary Hospital
It seems that lungworm infections are on the rise. Prior to now variety of weeks I’ve had 3 lab-confirmed instances of Angiostrongylus vasorum – or “lungworm” as it’s extra generally recognized – in canines visiting our Anicare hospitals (2 in Blanchardstown and one in our Glasnevin department). Canines are sometimes contaminated by consuming small slugs and snails (or much less generally frogs) and it’s one thing that suburban pets can simple choose up in their very own again gardens. When a canine eats the contaminated intermediate hosts the parasite continues its advanced lifecycle and the worms mature and stay within the blood vessels near the lungs and the guts. From right here they lay eggs which turn into larvae that penetrate into the small airways of the lungs from the place they’re coughed up and swallowed. Lastly these larvae are handed within the canines faeces, after which can re-infect slugs, snails and frogs within the atmosphere.
Angiostrongylus infections may cause a myriad of various scientific indicators in an contaminated canine. It is likely one of the few pet parasites now we have in Eire that may ceaselessly have deadly penalties. As a result of the grownup worms stay inside blood vessels they have an effect on blood clotting. Many canines we see with this situation develop bleeding problems, and that is usually the explanation they’re introduced to us within the first place. Different signs can embody coughing, breathlessness and generally neurological issues (if the animal haemorrhages into its mind or backbone).
The case I noticed this morning was a younger canine that had developed a harsh productive cough over the previous few days. It had little or no contact with different canines which made typical infectious bronchitis – which is frequent in canines – unlikely on this case. The canine kindly offered me with a big phlegm pattern (by coughing it up at my ft). I instantly positioned a drop of this on a glass slide and examined it below the microscope. Angiostrongylus infections can usually be very tough to diagnose however on this case I used to be in a position to determine the microscopic parasite larvae swimming about within the canine’s phlegm! It it at all times very rewarding to have the ability to really see the pathogen liable for an animal’s sickness, which might be why I’m so hooked up to my outdated Leitz microscope. Right here’s a hyperlink to a video of this morning’s star pathogen:
Fortunately the situation is treatable and this morning’s affected person ought to do very effectively. Nonetheless with no fast prognosis and immediate therapy the canine’s outlook would have been a lot worse. Some routine parasite therapies may also be used to assist shield towards lungworm infections in canines, any of our vets and nurses will be capable of advise you on tips on how to greatest shield your pet.
