[doganjo]

Questions?  A friend's dog contracted heart worm from licking grass that a slug carrying this had slimed over. It was extremely ill, and is little better 3 months later, it may pull through, we all hope so.

My first question is - can ducks and hens contract this disease?
My second question is - does Vermx control it or is something else required

[sandy]

I hope not, slugs are bad enough without having added isssues, I feed Lilly and Charlie the Ducks, slugs and snails, I though I had found a good use for them at last and got my own back for them eating my plants

[doganjo]

The heartworm is already in the UK - one case in Scotland - a weimaraner I think in Glasgow, and the Brittany I know in Wales.  It is carried by slugs and also on their slime trail which can be on grass.  I don't let my dogs eat grass when out for walks just in case.

[sandy]

Oh! hope your French guests enjoyed themselves!

[doganjo]

They've gone to bed - too much good food, wine and the 'wee beastie'

[sandy]

A good old Scottish night then!!!

[shetlandpaul]

would the normal wormers not kill it off.

[doganjo]

Not in dogs they don't, that's why I asked.

[shetlandpaul]

have been looking it up. seems to be mainly a dog/cat/fox and us rarely. so i would think the chucks killing off the slugs and snails would be a good idea. there are drugs and injections against it. how the french heartworm got here i would be intrested in finding out.

[doganjo]

So would I.  My friends dog is still very poorly 4 months on.

[sandy]

Simple, Well if poultry do not get it then it would be good to take them out for walks on leads to eat them ALL!!!! I suppose it came over with some food product carrying the slug eggs!!!

[shetlandpaul]

more likely to have come over with an infected dog. if its entered the wild animal population then i would think that the inoculation is the only way to protect the animals.

[doganjo]

Another result of the pet passport and dropping our quarantine no doubt!

[shetlandpaul]

more to do with lack of medicating. i have never taken a pet abroad but i thought they had to be wormed with a vets cert. i feel sorry for your friend it could take ages to clear them out. i hope the dog gets better. but a bit more like the aussie qualatine rules would help. that then would keep out all the nasties we have had in the past.

[doganjo]

The pet passport is very strict. I have lots of friends who take our breed back to the 'home' country - for shows(we're all off to the main one next week), trials, mating etc.- I won't 'cos it's too far in my opinion.  I just wondered if some of the worm preparations aren't effective against heartworm and some vets are dosing with the wrong wormer.