First Canine Heartworm in Kalinga detected

Tabuk City, Kalinga - A possible first case of Canine Heartworm (CHW) in Kalinga was detected through 4-way rapid test conducted at the AR Veterinary Clinic in Bulanao, Tabuk City on June 13, 2021.

In an interview Dr. Stephen Ballog, owner of AR Veterinary Clinic, he detected the CHW from a two-year old Dachshund that was also Anaplasma (ANA) and Ehrlichia (HER) positive.

CHW is the presence of parasitic worm called ‘Dirofilaria immitis’ in the pulmonary artery and/or right heart of dogs that may result in severe lung disease, heart failure, other organ damage, and death if left undetected and untreated.

The survival rate is quite high if it is diagnosed earlier.

Ballog disclosed that the CHW is a cause of concern for pet owners, because as new diseases are introduced due to buying pets outside the province, cases as such could spread rapidly.

The disease can be transmitted to other dogs through mosquito bites.

The Veterinary Doctor explained that symptoms include coughing, ascites, decreased appetite, and weight loss and may vary with patients.

Treatment

Ballog said that "the treatment for the CHW is a drug called immiticide, but it can also be treated with the combination of other drugs."

The veterinarian empathized with ‘every fur parent’ as medications for such disease are ‘quite expensive.’

Ballog advised pet owners to be responsible emphasizing that “prevention is better than cure.” He encourage the owners to have their pets be checked by trusted vets because the “early detection and medication is very important.”

He also appeals that pet owners be sensitive with the needs of their pets.

Meanwhile, Dr. Leonardo Damian of the Provincial Veterinary Office said that they are still unaware of said CHW case.

“If there is a case, we have yet to receive an official report,” Damian said.

OTHER NEWS

How Natonin’s ‘Fulig’ brought woman in labor to the hospital

ADVERTISEMENT

Follow Guru Press Cordillera on Facebook for more News and Information