Is Nonprescription Lungworm Treatment for Dogs an Option?
The three main internal parasites (worms) that can affect dogs living in the UK are:
Roundworm
Tapeworm
Lungworm (Angiostrongylus vasorum)
Dog owners might wonder if there is a nonprescription lungworm treatment for dogs. However, while two of these common parasites (roundworm and tapeworm) can be treated with non-prescription wormers, there is no nonprescription lungworm treatment for dogs for controlling Angiostrongylus vasorum.
What is Angiostrongylus vasorum?
The lungworm Angiostrongylus vasorum (pronounced anjio-strong-gill-us vase-or- um) is a parasitic worm that lives in the heart and in the blood vessels in the lungs of dogs. Angiostrongylus vasorum is commonly known as lungworm because infection commonly causes breathing problems, but strictly speaking it is a heartworm. It is also known as ‘French heartworm’ because the parasite was first isolated in France. Dogs infected with this lungworm can become severely ill and some may die.
How do dogs become infected with lungworm?
Angiostrongylus vasorum has a complex life cycle that involves slugs and snails. Dogs become infected when they eat slugs and snails infected with the larvae (immature forms) of the worm. It is not known if dogs can become infected through contact with slug or snail faeces or slime trails.
Immature forms of the worm (called larvae) live in slugs and snails.
Infected slugs or snails might be eaten by dogs, foxes or frogs and toads.
In the dog, the larvae penetrate the intestines and spread to the heart and lungs.
In the heart and lungs of dogs the larvae develop into adult worms and lay eggs.
The eggs are coughed up, swallowed, and end up in the dog's faeces.
Eggs in faeces develop into larvae, which penetrate the foot of passing slugs and snails. This means that leaving dog faeces in the environment can help spread lungworm - another important reason why people should pick up after their dog.
Dogs can also be infected with lungworm if they eat infected frogs or toads.
How Angiostrongylus vasorum lungworm affects dogs
Infection with A. vasorum can cause a wide range of effects in dogs. The illness caused by A. vasorum infection is called angiostrongylosis. The speed of development and severity of the illness depends on the number of worms infecting the dog and the age and general health of the dog. Illness usually develops slowly and subtly, which is why it can go undetected and can be difficult to diagnose. The dog might have a cough, difficulty breathing, a lack of appetite and lose weight. The infection can also affect blood clotting in the dog and so there may be blood in the faeces, or prolonged bleeding after minor injuries. Occasionally infection causes sudden death.
Because of the potential seriousness of the disease people are understandably interested in treatment options, including whether there is a nonprescription lungworm treatment for dogs.
Spread of Angiostrongylus vasorum in the UK
A.vasorum is growing in importance because it appears to be spreading throughout the UK. It is thought to have first reached Great Britain in the mid 1970s via a greyhound imported from Ireland. At first, it was only found in parts of the south of England and Wales, but it is now being found in northern England and Scotland.
Three main factors are thought to be contributing to the spread:
the growing urbanisation of foxes (the main carrier of the parasite);
warmer and wetter winters, allowing more slugs and snails to survive;
a rise in the movement of dogs around the UK.
Reports of cases of lungworm in dogs can suggest that it is present in the area. While increased awareness of the disease might make diagnosis more likely, absence of reported cases cannot be taken as proof that there is no lungworm in that area.
What is lungworm treatment for dogs?
Once angiostrongylosis has been correctly diagnosed by a vet, it is treatable with appropriate prescribed parasiticide therapy, which must be used promptly. This treatment must be prescribed by a vet as there is no nonprescription lungworm treatment for dogs
For more on worm infections in dogs see ESCCAP UK & Ireland
Is it possible to buy nonprescription lungworm treatment for dogs?
No, there is no nonprescription A. vasorum lungworm treatment for dogs available to buy. The medicines that are effective in the treatment of the disease are only available on veterinary prescription.
Preventing lungworm disease
It is possible to prevent lungworm disease developing in dogs with regular drug treatment to disrupt the lifecycle of A. vasorum. Preventive treatment helps reduce environmental contamination with infective larvae and prevents the development of disease in the dog.
As with lungworm disease treatment there are no nonprescription medicines for lungworm prevention for dogs. Only certain prescription-only medicines are licensed for preventing A. vasorum lungworm. A vet can advise on whether a dog needs preventive lungworm treatment and can prescribe preventive therapy if needed,
For more on veterinary parasite risk assessment see the BVA’s policy on responsible parasiticide use.
Other lungworms
Crenosoma vulpis (also known as the fox lungworm) and Oslerus osleri (also known as lungworm) are other parasitic lungworms that can affect dogs in the UK. These are ‘true’ lungworms because they live in the lungs of infected dogs. In the UK these are considered less important internal parasites in dogs than roundworm, tapeworm or the lungworm A. vasorum. There are a few non-prescription wormers (that contain the drug fenbendazole) that are licensed for the treatment of Oslerus osleri lungworm infection in dogs,
Unbiased information on veterinary medicines including lungworm treatment for dogs
Veterinary Prescriber is an independent online learning and reference resource for veterinary professionals. We publish independent reviews of veterinary medicines, including parasiticides and medicines for the treatment of lungworm in dogs. We also publish the unique Parasiticide Guide – a unique searchable database of UK parasiticides to help vets make treatment choices in the best interests of their patients and clients and the environment.