Lungworm Awareness Month

Its Lungworm Awareness Month but how much do you know about it?

Lungworm is a parasite that can cause serious health problems in dogs, it can even be fatal.

How do Dogs get Lungworm

The larvae is carried by slugs and snails. Dogs can be infected when they eat infected slugs, snails and frogs, drinking from outdoor bowls or picking them up from their toys.

As the Larvae grow inside your dog they move through the body to the heart and blood vessels, this can lead to heart problems, breathing problems and pneumonia. Sometimes the infection can go unnoticed potentially becoming fatal.

After 28 days the worms are big enough to produce their own larvae leading to serious problems including hemorrhage in the lungs, liver, intestines and spinal cord.

Symptoms

they can vary but can include

• Coughing
• Breathing problems
• Reluctance to exercise
• Excessive bleeding from small cuts
• Changes in behavior

Preventing Lungworm

Although lungworm doesn’t pass directly from dog to dog the larvae

will be passed in feces which then infects more slugs and snails thereby continuing the cycle.

Regular treatment and prevention is essential for the health of your pet.

Come and speak to us today about preventing lungworm