Lungworm is a type of parasitic worm affecting dogs, and also foxes, who are often implicated in spreading the disease from area to area. With the number of urban foxes in London, it means there is a relatively high risk of infection.
How do dogs get Fox lungworm?
Dogs are infected when they eat slugs, or snails containing the lungworm larvae. Inside the dog, the lungworm larvae penetrate the stomach wall and migrate to the liver and the lungs, via the circulatory system. The lungworm larvae mature into adults within the dog's airways.
What are the signs of lungworm in dogs?
Signs of lungworm disease are vague, and easily confused with other illnesses, including:Weight loss.Breathing difficulties.Coughing (especially bringing up blood)Lethargy.Poor blood clotting/persistent bleeding.General sickness.Circling.Stomach and back pain.Lungworm in dogs | Dog health | The Kennel Club
Is lungworm fatal in foxes?
Foxes can also become infected with the lungworm, and have been implicated in the spread of the parasite across the country. The adult of this particular lungworm lives in the heart and major blood vessels supplying the lungs, where it can cause a host of problems. Left untreated, the infection can often be fatal.
What is lungworm caused by?
A lungworm infection is caused by one of several parasitic roundworms. ... Eucoleus aerophilus is primarily known as a parasite of foxes but it has also been found in dogs, cats and other carnivores. The others are parasites that infect dogs and other related members of the canid family.
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