= DIROFILAROSIS
Disease common throughtout the U.S and the southern European countries (Spain, Italy, Greece, Southern France)
NO VACCINATION POSSIBLE, BUT THERE IS A PREVENTIVE TREATMENT IN THE DANGEROUS REGIONS.
Symptoms are : Weakness, cough, accelerated and difficult breathing, weight loss.
Often there are complications : Anemia,; kidney failure, jaundice, Ascites.
No treatment for this disease, except for surgical removal of the worm from the heart (!)
This disease can affect "travelling" dogs, (rarely cats), which accompany their owners on holiday : Symptomes occur only about 5 month after the holidays !
IF YOU PLAN ON TAKING YOUR DOG TO A REGION WHERE THIS DISEASE EXISTS, GIVE YOUR DOG A PREVENTIVE MEDICINE BEFORE LEAVING. TALK TO YOUR VETERINARY ABOUT THIS DISEASE AND THE PREVENTIVE MEASURES !
HEARTWORM DISEASE IN DOGS AND CATS