Do dogs and cats get dengue? Veterinarian clarifies doubts and alerts

Pet Health

Treatment in the initial stages is done with dewormers and depending on the severity of the injury, other procedures and medications will be necessary.

With more than 2,500 confirmed cases of dengue in Amazonas in 2024, according to a report from the Health Surveillance Foundation released last week, a concern that increasingly concerns pet owners is whether dogs and cats can also contract the disease.

According to the professor and director of the Nilton Lins Veterinary Hospital (HVet), Gigliola Clark Pontes, the good news is that pets do not get dengue, but the specialist warns that Aedes Aegypti can transmit a disease called heartworm disease to dogs.

Commonly known as ‘heartworm’, heartworm is a parasitic pathology that migrates to the organ causing clots.

“It only affects cats in extremely rare cases, but dogs are the definitive hosts, in which the parasite can develop, become an adult and trigger symptoms and pathology,” said the specialist.

Symptoms

The professor explains that the parasite is more common in coastal regions, but the migration of animals carrying the disease to the Amazon, combined with the proliferation of Aedes at this time of year, has allowed many cases to be recorded in recent months.

“This pathology was no longer described in Amazonas for some time, but in recent months, veterinarians have been diagnosing its presence through examinations. These are not high numbers, but they represent a warning sign.”

Gigliola Pontes adds that among the main symptoms that owners should be aware of in their pets are tiredness, weight loss, cough, bluish mucous membranes and difficulty breathing, in more serious cases.

Treatment

In addition to the widely publicized measures to combat Aedes Aegypti, the professor highlights that one measure to prevent contamination of animals is the use of appropriate repellents.

Treatment in the initial stages is done with dewormers and depending on the severity of the injury, other procedures and medications will be necessary. If you have any doubts, the teacher recommends that you seek immediate advice from a veterinary professional before using any medication.

The Nilton Lins Veterinary Hospital, in the Parque das Laranjeiras neighborhood, stands out for a wide variety of specialized services at affordable prices for the entire public. With a modern structure, the hospital is open from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 3pm, and on Saturdays, from 8am to 12pm. For more information, WhatsApp (92) 9.9347-3308 and Instagram @hvetniltonlins are available.

*With information from consultancy

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