Blood backs up in the liver and other parts of the body, causing general congestion and degeneration. Dogs fatigue easily, cough, and appear unthrifty. Based on a survey of 37,000 asymptomatic dogs living in California, Theis has correlated infection with living in geographical areas with an elevation of 152-1,000 meters and a 30 year mean annual rainfall of 65 cm or more. Management Prevention by drug therapy. Daily oral administration of diethylcarbamazine or monthly administration of Ivermectin.
Diagnosis is by finding of microfilariae in the blood.
This is the most important filarioid parasite of domestic animals in North America.