Don't Panic about lungworm!
(there are reasons why lungworm is in the press lately)
Recently we have had a few requests for information from clients
about lungworm after they read about it on the internet or in the
press. I sense a degree of panic setting in and want to reassure you
that the risk is lower than imagined. There seems to be a concerted
effort within the industry to increase worming frequencies to monthly
and I think this is driven by drug companies rather than by common
sense.
I don't doubt that lungworm and heartworm are on the increase in
the UK, especially in certain areas of Southern England. There is no
published data to confirm this and it is based on the opinion of some
vets in some areas. The fact that my colleagues in London have seen
cases suggests it has spread from the south west to the south east.
There has only been a single confirmed case in Purton in the last 3
years. Situations change and we may see more cases in future but as of
December 2008 we have a relatively low incidence.
The worms are transmitted by eating slugs, snails and some by
direct contact with faeces. Infection can result in various problems
ranging from coughing, bleeding and in some cases they can result in
death.
The terminology can be confusing as the worm (Angiostrongylus vasorum, french heartworm) that
has recently been cited as posing a serious risk to dogs is actually a
heartworm, a worm that primarily lives in the blood vessels of the
lung and heart. There are 3 other worms in dogs (Oslerus osleri, Filaroides hirthi and Crenosoma vulpis) which are in fact lungworms and a worm in cats (Aelurostrongylus abstrusus) that
lives in the lung and heart. So there are actually 4 lungworms in the
dog and 1 in the cat currently being diagnosed in the UK. We have a fact sheet on lungworms on our website for further information about their life cycle.
These worms are in addition to the worms we regularly treat for with a routine healthcare plan.
Call me cynical but one of the reasons that lungworm has become
such an issue recently may have something to do with a wormer
(Advocate) that has recently been licensed to treat French Heartworm.
Soon after getting the license the drug company (Bayer) started a
marketing campaign in the veterinary press promoting their prescription
only treatment. Some veterinary surgeons who use this drug as their
primary worm and flea treatment started promoting this fact to their
clients and writing articles in the local news using a press pack supplied by Bayer. I'm sure in some areas
there is a concern and informing the public is important but don't
panic, your dog is hardly at more at risk now than it was 2 years ago.
If lungworm becomes a problem in the area we will warn you.
Lungworm has always been present in the south east and we have had
effective treatment for it for years although they require multiple
treatments whereas Advocate requires a single treatment.
So if Advocate is so good then why not use it all the time?
- Well out of all the lungworms and heartworms above Advocate only treats the French Heartworm and there is an alternative drug that treats all of them called Fenbendazole.
- It is recommended to use Advocate monthly as a flea control product which is correct as fleas are a year round problem. However that means you have to treat your dog monthly for worms as well. I am not comfortable with recommending that clients put a drug into their pets bloodstream forever, every month of their life to control worms.
- The wormer we recommend for routine worming (Milbemax) is given every 3 months and reduces the infection of both French Heartworm and Crenosoma vulpis.
- The British Small Animal Veterinary Association recommend that when it comes to worming there is a no-one-situation-fits-all for adult dogs, or all situations.
- Treatment for worms should be considered on an individual basis and you should take care if you are aware your dog or cat eats snails or slugs, they may need additional worming.
Map
