Trichinosis in a dog.

Trichinella spiralis infection was identified by direct fecal examination as the cause of gastrointestinal disease in a dog. The source of infection was believed to be a woodchuck. Management included supportive care and benzimidazole treatment. Vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, and myalgia are the main signs of trichinosis, but routine fecal examination seldom reveals T spiralis in natural infections. Mebendazole is the recommended anthelmintic and should be used to eliminate intestinal larvae and prevent muscle invasion. Although the prevalence of trichinosis is decreasing in swine, wild mammals may still be a potential source for dogs and cats. Nevertheless, because of the nonspecific clinical signs of trichinosis, many cases probably go undiagnosed.