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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Reminder about lungworm prevention for dogs

6 replies

Beebopwasthebest · 13/07/2024 00:22

Our lawn is absolutely hooching with slugs, It's a really good/bad year depending on whether you are gardener or a slug!

Please consider routine lungworm prevention for your dogs. Most worms are grim/unhygienic/ relatively low risk but lungworm can cause serious clinical issues and in some cases death of the dog.

www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/pet-health-hub/conditions/lungworm-in-dogs

OP posts:
KeenOtter · 13/07/2024 08:29

There is no prevention for lung worm All you can do is treat the lungwork once your dog has been infected.

Wormers wil treat the lungworm once your dog has been infected by lung worms

Wormcounts will tell you your dog has an infection and what wormers to use.

Beebopwasthebest · 13/07/2024 17:58

Yes, thank you - I could have phrased that more accurately.

Nothing can truly prevent a dog (with outdoor access) from coming across/ingesting the infective L3 stage of the A.vasorum life cycle which is found mainly slugs and snails.

Similarly we can't prevent fleas or ticks jumping onto a pet, but can routinely treat to reduce the morbidity these parasites cause.

A couple of treatment regimes have a pharmaceutical licence (in the UK) for prevention of patent lung worm infection (infection causing symptoms). Others are licenced for treatment only and will reduce and control the burden if used routinely.

Some people will prefer to treat fleas and ticks when they see them rather than use routine treatments regularly. With lungworm, it's not as easy to see if your pet is infected. I believe faecal tests tend to rely on detecting excreted L1 larvae (shed in in heavy infestation) or DNA detection. The eggs are not passed in faeces.

It's a serious parasite and can cause death or serious bleeding. I find some owners are not as aware of it in the same way as ticks or fleas.

I am worried I will be seeing more cases given the mild winter and wet summer ...so just wanted to raise awareness.

OP posts:
KeenOtter · 13/07/2024 19:32

Lungworm eggs are picked up in dogs faecal test in a worm count test. They can then be treated easily.

3 month faecal test will be safe to protect a dog from infestation of lung worm.

All vets have been advised to relook at the advice for blanket treatment of parasites. BVA are recommending the use of worm counting and treating as required.

The environmental impact of blanket treatment and resistance is a mega issue.

Do not put your dog at risk of lungworm but this does not mean blanket medication if not required.

muddyford · 14/07/2024 13:27

A friend's dog had a lungworm infestation. Blood everywhere.

JC03745 · 14/07/2024 13:29

Thanks for the info and highlighting this OP.

hooching with slugs Is this a play on words or an actual saying? Never heard it before!

Beebopwasthebest · 14/07/2024 14:05

JC03745 · 14/07/2024 13:29

Thanks for the info and highlighting this OP.

hooching with slugs Is this a play on words or an actual saying? Never heard it before!

Ha ha! 😊.
I think it's Scottish in origin? I've probably spelled it wrong but it means overcrowded.

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