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Internal Parasites in Dogs and Cats

Internal parasites in dogs and cats that affect the respiratory system: most common symptoms and causes. There are many internal and external parasites that can cause diseases of canine respiratory system. Most of them are caused by roundworms, flatworms, mites and protozoans. These parasites occur in the the lungs, nares, nose or throat of dogs.

• Eucoleus boehmi is a roundworm that occurs both in dogs and cats.
  
  Symptoms: the infected dog may forcefully tap its nose against the ground, trying to expel the nasal discharge from its nose caused by the parasite infection. Dogs and cats can be infected through accidental ingestion of earthworms.
  
  
• Cuterebra is a large larva that is often found in the skin of dogs and cats.
  
  Symptoms of the infection may include persistent sneezing or nasal discharge, swelling over the nose, labored breathing with a bloody nasal discharge, mouth and throat swelling. Dogs and cats are infected through contact with rodents, mainly in the spring time, and young kittens and puppies may be infected by the larva carried on the fur of their mother.
  
  
• Pneumonyssoides caninum is a canine nasal mite. Dogs are infected through direct contact with other infected dogs.
  
  Symptoms may include sneezing, snuffling, snorting, itching of the face, and discharge from the nose.
  
  
• Toxoplasma gondii is a microscopic internal parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. When cats are only hosts to this parasite, they may not show any signs of the infection, but when their organisms fail to resists the infection, they may develop a systemic disease that affects several organs. In cats this disease reveals itself most commonly as respiratory disease.
  
  Symptoms: cats with pneumonic toxoplasmosis usually have labored breathing, fever, lethargy, abdominal tenderness, and loss of appetite. Pneumonic toxoplasmosis often develops in cats that have other current infections such as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). The disease causes other complication and is usually fatal.
• Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is a roundworm which is most commonly found in the form of worm larva in snails - common food source to mice, birds and ridents. Cats become infected typically by the ingestion of infected mice, birds and rodents.
  
  Symptoms: mild infections often have only a few signs, however, heavy infections can cause severe pneumonia. Cats can have rapid, open-mouthed abdominal breathing.
  
  
• Filaroides hirthi is a roundworm that occurs in the lungs of dogs. Dogs may be infected as puppies sometime during the nursing period. There have been cases of this infection in dogs resulting from using corticosteroid therapy for arthritis.
  
  The symptoms of a light infection with Filaroides hirthi is a nonproductive cough ("kennel cough"), rapid and labored breathing, and exercise intolerance.
  
  
• Paragonimus kellicotti is a flatworm that occurs in the lungs of cats and dogs. The main natural hosts of the adult parasites are badger, mink, otter and weasel which get infected through ingestion of snails. Dogs and cats commonly become infected by eating fresh-water crabs, crayfish and rodents. Kittens may be infected by their mother. Dogs and cats will begin to shed eggs 5 to 7 weeks after infection.
  Symptoms are usually mild and may include occasional coughing. In case of severe infection, the animal can have labored breathing, a sudden attack of coughing and accumulation of air and gas in the lung cavities from migrating worms. Occasionally, sudden death may occur from the breaking of the membrane that envelops the lung (pleura).
  
  

Preventing Internal Parasite Infection

References:
1. National Library of Medicine
2. International Veterinary Information Service

Go Pets America recommends seeking the advice of your local veterinarian for the most appropriate vaccination program and for the diagnosis and treatment of your pet's health problems. For vaccination requirements please contact your state and local licensing authorities.