Latin Name

Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, Angiostrongylus vasorum, Filaroides milksi, F. hirthi, Oslerus osleri

Seen in Cats and Dogs?

A. abstrusus in cats only
A. vasorum in dogs only
F. milksi, F. hirthi, O. osleri in dogs and wild canidae

How does my pet become infected?

A. abstrusus&A. vasorum - ingestion of molluscs (slugs, snails etc)
F. milksi, F. hirthi&O. osleri - ingestion of larvae from faeces and transfer to pups through bitch's saliva during grooming.

Signs

A. abstrusus - chronic mild cough
A. vasorum - fast breathing, heavy productive cough with bloody sputum and possible fainting
Filaroides sp - no signs
O. osleri - breathing problems and rasping cough