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Treatment

Patients with respiratory parasites are usually treated on an outpatient basis with dewormers. Anti-inflammatory agents are also given to the patients to decrease their body’s negative immune reaction to so many dead parasites. In some cases, the parasites can only be removed surgically one at a time.

If your dog is having trouble breathing, it should be hospitalized and given oxygen therapy until the parasite infestation has been resolved.

Living and Management

Your veterinarian will schedule follow-up appointments to examine your dog's respiratory passages with a bronchoscope and to reexamine fecal and urine samples for parasite eggs. Preventing your dog from eating insects, rodents, and wild animals is the best way of protecting your dog against parasite infections. Also, avoiding contact with unknown cats and dogs, or even separating your own pets (if you have others) when they appear to be ill are some ways in which you can prevent or mitigate a parasitic infection.

There may be some more preventive methods for avoiding parasites. If your dog is a sporting dog, or if you live in a wooded area, or near a body of water, talk to your veterinarian about the local parasites and what you can do to protect your dog from an infestation.

Most animals recover well from respiratory parasites, unless the infection has been chronic (long term). If parasites have migrated to the brain, causing your dog to show symptoms of neurological impairment, a cure will not be possible.

If you suspect that your dog is infected with parasites, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible. If your dog has already begun to show symptoms of neurological change or degeneration, call your veterinarian for an emergency appointment.