Sentences with phrase «dead worm fragments»

In dogs, adult worms can live in the heart and lungs for more than 5 years, but in cats, the typical lifespan is less than 2 years.2 The release of new heartworm debris into the bloodstream initiates a second inflammatory response, also primarily localized in the lungs.4 Lesions in the second phase of infection are associated with dead worm fragments as the immune system removes them from the body.

If the heartworm treatment has been in the past few weeks I would suspect an inflammatory reaction to dead worm fragments causing the fever and lack of appetite.