Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with lung worm and heart defect causing reversible high lung
By Estèves, I et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2004·National Veterinary School of Alfort, France·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Reversible pulmonary hypertension presenting simultaneously with an atrial septal defect and angiostrongylosis in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A one-year-old female neutered beagle was brought in with a swollen belly and breathing difficulties. Tests showed she had a serious heart condition and a lung infection caused by a parasite called Angiostrongylus vasorum. The vet treated her with a dewormer, diuretics, antibiotics, and a medication to widen blood vessels. After two weeks, her condition improved significantly, and follow-up tests showed her heart pressure returned to normal. Eighteen months later, she was doing well with no signs of the previous issues.
People also search for: beagle breathing problems · dog heart condition treatment · Angiostrongylus vasorum in dogs · dog abdominal swelling causes
Abstract
A one-year-old female neutered beagle was presented with marked abdominal effusion. Echocardiography showed marked dilatation of the right cardiac chambers, an atrial septal defect and severe tricuspid insufficiency. Systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP), evaluated by continuous wave Doppler echocardiography, was very high (80 mmHg), with a right to left interatrial shunt. The radiographic images were compatible with widespread pneumonitis. Numerous larvae of Angiostrongylus vasorum were visible on direct faecal examination. The animal was given fenbendazole for 15 days, combined with diuretics, an antibiotic and a vasodilator. Two weeks later, the dog showed a marked improvement. The treatment, except the anthelmintic, was continued for seven weeks and then stopped. At that stage, Doppler echocardiography revealed that the sPAP had returned to normal (20 mmHg) and the interatrial shunt had reversed (left to right). Eighteen months later, clinical and Doppler echocardiographic examinations were normal.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15116890/