Chagas disease impacting animals in San Antonio area
SAN ANTONIO – A warning for pet owners in San Antonio -- a potentially deadly disease is impacting animals in the area.
“Chagas disease is just a parasite,” Dr. Roy Madigan, the director at the Animal Hospital of Smithson Valley, said.
According to Dr. Madigan, 12% of dogs in Texas have Chagas disease, and it’s more prevalent the farther South you go.
Similar to heartworm, animals can become infected by Chagas if they’re bitten by kissing bugs.
“That parasite loves to go inside of tissues, and it has an affinity for heart tissues specifically,” Madigan said.
The symptoms of Chagas can show up in a number of ways. Unfortunately, one of those symptoms is sudden death. It’s something volunteers at Tracys Paws Rescue know a lot about.
https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2021/11/28/chagas-disease-impacting-animals-in-san-antonio-area/