Heartworm Treatment

Heartworm is a major parasite of dogs and cats in many parts of the world and causes serious health problems in unprotected animals.  Although more prevalent in countries such as America, Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) is slowly making its presence known in Europe and can pose a serious health threat to pets that visit a ‘danger area'.

A recent article by ParkVets in the U.K states that the parasite Angiostrongylus vasorum (French Heartworm) is now becoming endemic in south-east England as well as areas of Cornwall and Wales.  It is thought that at present this U.K condition mainly affects dogs that eat snails, and is spread by the fox population for which slugs and snails are an important part of the diet. The foxes eat infected snails and in turn pass the parasite back to the slugs and snails in their stools, thus the dogs that eat snails, pick up the infection.

Angiostrongylus is a parasitic worm that lives in the heart and arteries of the lung of the infected animal.  Signs of infection include rapid breathing and coughing.  In severe cases some animals have presented in heart failure, collapsing or showing signs of bleeding.  If your pet develops a cough don't panic, there could be a number of reasons for this, but a veterinary examination is definitely a good idea.  If the infection is caught early enough anti-parasitic drugs usually prove effective. 

Prevention is better than cure so ask your vet for advice on whether such a condition is prevalent in your area and if so he will be able to prescribe an appropriate wormer.