Dirofilariosis A K A Heartworm Disease Notes included

Dirofilariosis A. K. A. Heartworm Disease Notes included

What is Dirofilariosis? Serious, potentially fatal parasitic disease Dirofilaria immitis is a parasite that lives in the pulmonary arteries and right atrium/ventricle They can grow to be a foot long and as many as 250 worms in a dog

Who can get it? • Dogs (difinitive host) • and relatives of dogs • Cats • Ferrets • Humans are highly unlikely to become infected

Prevalence The darker the red, the more heartworm disease diagnoses.

How can my pet get it?

Clinical Signs • • • Coughing Exercise Intolerance Lethargy Dyspnea Cyanosis Hemoptysis Syncope Epistaxis Ascites. • Signs can be present in dogs, cats, and ferrets.

Stages of Heartworm Disease • Stage 1 – No significant changes • Stage 2 – Moderate infection. Some clinical signs noted. Physical changes • Stage 3 – Severe infection. Many clinical signs noted. Pronounce physical changes • Stage 4 (Caval Syndrome)– Most dogs die when at this stage if not immediately treated

Are there treatment options? • Yes! • “Fast Kill” • Melarsomine injections • “Slow Kill” • Monthly preventatives • Worm Embolectomy • No treatment options for cats and ferrets

What are the possible side effects of treatment? • Pain and Inflammation of injection site • Pulmonary thromboembolism – Signs include: • • Coughing Hemoptysis Dyspnea Tachypnea Lethargy Anorexia Pyrexia

REMEMBER!!! IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOUR DOG TO BE ON STRICT EXERCISE RESTRICTION DURING TREATMENTS!

References • http: //www. 2 ndchance. info/heartworms. Cat. htm • https: //www. heartwormsociety. org/pet-ownerresources/heartworm-basics • http: //www. merckmanuals. com/vet/circulatory_ system/heartworm_disease/overview_of_heart worm_disease. html • http: //www. petmd. com/dog/generalhealth/evr_dg_heartworm_disease? page=2 • http: //www. fda. gov/Animal. Veterinary/Resource sfor. You/Animal. Health. Literacy/ucm 188470. htm

References • http: //www. holisticandorganixpetshoppe. com/pr otocol-for-heartworms-slow-kill. html • http: //www. mpcoftexas. com/public/My-Dog. Tested-Positive-For-Heartworms-Now-What. cfm • http: //roccityk 9 club. com/dog-gallery/ • http: //lankavet. blogspot. com/2013/07/researchmakes-way-for-preventive. html • http: //www. merckmanuals. com/pethealth/exoti c_pets/ferrets/infectious_diseases_of_ferrets. ht ml • http: //pixgood. com/sick-dog. html