Katdogs Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 The owner of our local pet food place has asked me to spread the word about lung worm. I don't know much about it myself except what he told me, so I apologise if I get any of this wrong. Chris's little Pom girl recently died from lung worm infection. Chris employs a few vet students at his shop and remembered them talking about lung worm, so asked the vet to test for it but the vet (and others) all insisted it was extremely rare. It was only when she was crashing again after a blood transfusion that they did the test, and it was too late by then with complications setting in. Chris also has had to 'convince' (strongly demand) his GP to test him, his wife and their very young kids. A child died in Australia in the last year or so, and an older teenager has serious brain damage also attributed to lung worm. His GP hadn't heard of it at all. He says PLEASE pick up your dog and cat bowls so that there is no chance of slug trails being left in them. Keep puppies and kittens clear of snails and slugs. Advocate is the only preventer that mentions lung worm, but awareness, caution and vigilance are the best prevention. He's asking all his customers to spread the word. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 I think people can get this from not washing veggies properly, is that right, things like lettuce, and probably parsley and mint, all of which I have growing, and I've got alot of snails. My chooks eat slugs, can birds get lung worm? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallomph Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 I think people can get this from not washing veggies properly, is that right, things like lettuce, and probably parsley and mint, all of which I have growing, and I've got alot of snails. My chooks eat slugs, can birds get lung worm? Slugs, snails, beetles etc are the vectors for several kinds of worms that chooks can get. The general advice is you should worm your chooks twice a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 (edited) Never even heard of it As if there weren't enough parasites to worry about already. Thanks for posting about it kat. So sad And it's passed on by slugs?? Edited November 27, 2012 by Aussie3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katdogs Posted November 27, 2012 Author Share Posted November 27, 2012 I'm hoping someone with a lot more knowledge than me can answer these questions. I might start googling anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HazyWal Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Yes I saw that story last year I think it was on 60 minutes? I had never heard of it either, very sad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jed Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Parasitic Respiratory Infections in DogsLungworms are a parasitic worm (nematode) that settles in the lungs and windpipe (trachea), causing severe respiratory problems. Dogs that spend a lot of time roaming in the woods and/or on fields are at higher risk of developing this type of parasitic infections. Symptoms and Types There are several species of worm that can migrate to the lungs of animals, causing coughing and shortness of breath. The parasite most commonly seen in dogs is the Oslerus osleri. Adult worms create nodules in the windpipe of the animal and lay eggs. The larvae that hatch cause reactions in the airways, leading to obstruction of breathing. Complications can lead to more serious problems such as shortness of breath (dyspnea), bronchitis, emphysema, fluid build-up in the lungs, and even pneumonia. Signs are not severe unless there are large numbers of larvae living in the airways. Minor infections that do not cause any signs are also possible. Dogs that have been previously infected with lungworms have a degree of immunity and may be able to fight off a re-infection if the load is not too great. Causes Dogs become infected with lungworms when they drink water or eat prey infected with the larval stage of the worm. The larvae then migrate out of the intestines via the bloodstream to the lungs, where they develop into adult worms and lay eggs in the host's lungs. The eggs are then coughed up by the animal or passed in feces, which may then be eaten by birds, rodents, snails, or other pets. Puppies may also become infected by their mother (dam) when they are licked by or ingest feces from the infected dog. Diagnosis Tests to check if a dog has a lungworm infection include: •Physical examination (lung auscultation) and history •Chest X-rays •Fecal examination for eggs •Complete blood count (CBC) •Examination of fluid from lungs (tracheal wash) From Pet MD (american site). I always understood that snails and rats were the problem. Going to check further on chooks and birds. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty Miss Emma Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Hmm so what is the treatment and/or preventative? Now you've made me paranoid as Hamish is a chronic snail collector! I take them off him as soon as I see them, but I think it's impossible to stop him getting every snail in my garden! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 I grew up being told the cats and dogs would get lungworm from eating lizards. In dogs and cats I'm not sure. But I used to have goats and they can and do get lungworm. Normal worming routine kept it at bay. It was only when we got in neglected goats that it could be a problem. They had to be low dose wormed over a period of time. Worm all at once and the lungworms would swarm as they got affected by the chemical, and likely choke the animal. Not a pretty experience at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Just looking in my (old) goat care book. Levamisole wormers are recommended for lungworm in sheep and goats. Google tells me that Advocate kills lungworm - but t would be good to check with the manufacturer and/or a vet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megan_ Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Does advocate only come in spot on form? I hate spot treatments Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katdogs Posted November 27, 2012 Author Share Posted November 27, 2012 Is it very very rare or just not diagnosed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 (edited) It does Megan. Other pages from overseas implicate Panacur and Milbemax as being effective. But their Australian labels don't specify lungworm. Actually if I search on the Australian approved vet chemical database, here: http://services.apvma.gov.au/PubcrisWebClient/welcome.do for lungworm and dogs I get nothing. But if I just search lungworm I get this many products, including panacur, levamisole and invermectin (but in sheep/cattle/goat/pig dosages) http://services.apvma.gov.au/PubcrisWebClient/search.do;jsessionid=1lpKQ0SQTbn3bv5t1v88h1zmF2HCtpKH1Lm6PCk1LY7pT6GJL5h2!-1307542827 So what will need to happen is a conversation with a vet. They can authorise using a product "off-label" and can give the correct dose that will protect against lungworm. edit to add - I'm thinking the lack of Australian products specifically for dogs may mean it has not been a major issue previously?? Edited November 27, 2012 by Alyosha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jed Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 I don't think Panacur is approved for use on lungworm in Aust. However, I think the treatment is one dose (by weight) for 3 days .... I have lost my "dog book" with dosages etc in, but this ringing bells. Someone else is sure to know!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Assuming you mean Rat Lung Worm. Unless something has changed since last year there is no medication to prevent it according to drontal My link Panacur is off label in use for dogs in Australia and you can only use it for dogs with a script/ note from your vet . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shepherd Lover Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 (edited) A puppy I sold a few years ago picked up rat lungworm at his new premises. They live in an affluent Sydney northern suburb. The puppy was affected by some sort of paralysis in his spine if I remember rightly. He was treated and on last contact, seemed to be OK. I haven't followed up on him for a while. My understanding of rat lungworm is that the snails eat the faeces of infected rats and then carry the disease to others. Edited November 27, 2012 by Shepherd Lover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xyz Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 So sorry to hear about the poor Pom. May I ask how they definatively diagnosed it as lung worm? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Info from Bayer about Advocate and Lungworm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katdogs Posted November 27, 2012 Author Share Posted November 27, 2012 (edited) Article/story about Rat Lungworm in Sydney children NSW Govt health fact sheet Article in Mosman Leader from May 2012 Previous DOL discussion - my apologies, I didn't find this on a search of DOL, just Google Edited November 27, 2012 by Katdogs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shepherd Lover Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 (edited) Dancin bc, The link to the Bayer site seems to cover a lung worm of canine derivation. Rat lungworm is is lungworm of the rat species, transmitted by snails that have come into contact with infected rat faeces. I wonder whether the Bayer drugs would cover rat lungworm. Edited to add: I just read the old DOL thread on it and I see that Bayer say that their drug is not effective for rat lungworm Edited November 28, 2012 by Shepherd Lover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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