Lungworm (Angiostrongylus vasorum)

I recently went to a talk by representatives from BAYER at my local vets.  It was primarily about lungworm but other parasites were also included.  My local vets held the talk as 2 dogs had been lost to lungworm recently at the practice.

Where is it found?

 The adult of this particular lungworm resides in the heart and pulmonary artery - the major blood vessel supplying the lungs.

Unlike most worms that you can see the larvae of if passed in faeces this type of lungworm's larvae is microscopic and vasorum adults are slender worms of around 2.5cm in length but they are never seen as they remain inside the infected dog or fox.

How can my pet get lungworm?

This advertisement was made with a treat where the snail is and the snail (which they enlarged) was then computerized over the top.  No dogs or snails were harmed.

Tiny snail

Pets can get this life-threatening parasite by swallowing infected slugs, snails or frogs.

You may think "but my dog doesn't eat slugs or snails it can't be at risk?" 

However slugs and snails can be very small; even if dogs don’t eat slugs and snails on purpose, they may do accidentally when eating grass, drinking from outdoor water bowls, rummaging in undergrowth or playing with a toy outdoors.

Symptoms:

Symptoms can be varied, but can include, coughing, tiring easily, weight loss, poor appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive bleeding from minor wounds and seizures. A dog may show one or any combination of these or show none at all!

• If treatment is initiated early enough, dogs can go on to make a full recovery
• If left untreated, this parasite can be fatal to dogs
•  Even after successful treatment, re-infection is possible so on-going preventative treatment should be considered.

 I think my pet is at risk?

 Due to the serious nature of this parasite a regular preventative treatment should be considered if you frequently see slugs or snails in your locality. Slugs and snails are on the increase and dogs can swallow these accidentally. Standard wormers do not prevent this parasite; so speak to your vet for more advice.

How to prevent the spread?

Here are some general tips to help prevent the spread of worm eggs in the environment and thus reducing the risk of your pet from contracting them.

• Always dispose of your pets’ poo to limit environmental contamination with worm eggs
• Keep your pets’ bedding clean
• Regularly clean cats’ litter trays
• Keep pets well groomed

Is it a threat to me?

Angiostrongylus vasorum (lungworm) is not considered a threat to human health

 Dogs infected with lungworm spread the parasite into the environment, as the larvae of the parasite are expelled in the dog’s faeces. This increases the chances of other dogs becoming infected.

The parasite is relatively new in the UK. It first emerged in France but has since spread to many countries in Europe, Africa and the Americas. It is endemic in several parts of England mainly in the South however a small handful of suspected cases have now occurred north of the border in Scotland, since the first reported case in the central Scotland in 2008.

Unfortunately the restrictions and checks for pets travelling abroad and back into the country are becoming more slack so there may be new cases of even more dangerous parasites from abroad infecting the pets of Britain in the future.

If you want anymore information about lungworm either speak to your local vet or visit Bayer's website: http://www.itsajungle.co.uk/