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Treatment
Although several drugs have shown somewhat limited improvement in dogs during the acute stage, none produce a clinical “cure.” Unfortunately, even those that get treatment may progress to the chronic form of the disease. In these cases, supportive treatment of heart complications (e.g., heart arrythmias) is primary.
Living and Management
Dogs with Chagas disease and sudden heart complication have a guarded prognosis, while those with chronic forms of the disease typically have a more dismal outcome. In addition, due to the zoonotic nature of the disease, your veterinarian may recommend euthanizing the dog.
serology
The study of serum and the way it reacts to certain antigens
pulmonary
Pertaining to the lungs
tachycardia
A medical condition in which the patient has an abnormally fast heartbeat
urinalysis
An in-depth examination of the properties of urine; used to determine the presence or absence of illness
vector
A carrier of a disease; helps to move a disease from one animal to the next.
prognosis
The prediction of a disease’s outcome in advance
lymph nodes
Small structures that filter out the lymph and store lymphocytes
branch
A stem that comes out from a larger stem.
asymptomatic
Term used to refer to a condition of having a disease or affliction but not displaying symptoms of it.
endemic
The presence of a disease within a given area
intracellular
Inside the cell
acute
Term used to imply that a situation or condition is more severe than usual; also used to refer to a disease having run a short course or come on suddenly.
mucous membrane
A special type of tissue that exudes mucus