Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Pulmonary hypertension in small dogs from Angiostrongylus vasorum
By Glaus, T et al.·Published in Schweizer Archiv fur Tierheilkunde·2010·Abteilung fü·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: [Natural infection with Angiostrongylus vasorum: characterisation of 3 dogs with pulmonary hypertension].
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Three small dogs, aged 1, 2, and 11 years, were diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH) due to a natural infection with a parasite called Angiostrongylus vasorum. Their owners noticed symptoms like difficulty breathing and reduced ability to exercise, and two of the dogs even coughed up blood. After receiving anthelmintic treatment, which helps eliminate parasites, two of the dogs showed significant improvement in their symptoms and overall health. The study highlights the importance of identifying the underlying cause of PH for effective treatment.
People also search for: dog breathing problems · small dog cough blood · Angiostrongylus vasorum treatment · pulmonary hypertension in dogs · dog exercise intolerance
Abstract
Pulmonary hypertension (PH), together with its accompanying clinical signs and underlying causes, e.g. pulmonary thrombosis, are more and more recognized as an important clinical entity also in dogs. This article characterizes the clinical picture of 3 dogs with PH caused by natural infection with Angiostrongylus vasorum. All 3 dogs were of small breeds ( < 10 kg), the age at the time of diagnosis was 1, 2 and 11 years. Clinically, dyspnea and exercise intolerance were the predominating signs, 2 dogs developed hemoptysis, 1 dog developed right sided congestive heart failure. Severe arterial hypoxemia (PaO2 41 - 53 mmHg) reflected the severity of pulmonary parenchymal and vascular damage. Severe hyperglobulinemia (59 und 88 g/l) in two dogs implicated a long lasting infection. Anthelmintic treatment in 2 dogs resulted in quick clinical, radiographic and echocardiographic normalization. PH is the consequence of multiple causes and pathomechanisms, and the recognition of PH is primarily of differential diagnostic relevance. Prognosis and therapy in cases with PH mainly depend on the underlying cause, rather than on the PH and on its degree.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20582899/