SYSTEMIC ARTERIAL DIROFILARIASIS IN 5 DOGS

Systemic arterial dirofilariasis is an unusual manifestation of heartw orm disease of dogs that results from aberrant migration of Dirofilari a immitis into the peripheral arterial circulation. To expand the clin ical characterization of systemic arterial dirofilariasis, 5 dogs eval uated at the North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary M edicine were reviewed. Common clinical presentations included hindlimb lameness, paresthesia of hindlimbs, and interdigital ischemic necrosi s resulting from thromboembolic disease, Visualization of heartworms w ith angiography or ultrasonography confirmed the diagnosis in all case s. All 5 dogs were treated with an adulticide; 3 dogs were treated wit h thiacetarsamide sodium and 2 with melarsomine dihydrochloride, Four of the 5 dogs survived the initial treatment period; 1 dog died of sev ere thromboembolic complications after thiacetarsamide sodium therapy. The treatment of systemic arterial dirofilariasis creates a therapeut ic challenge because of multiple potential complications resulting fro m thromboembolic disease.