A research effort named for a Labrador retriever is redrawing the map of a parasite many veterinarians once treated as rare. On October 13, 2026, Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences highlighted The Drake Project, led by Dr. Kathleen Aicher and Ph.D. student Lea Poellmann, and its expanding findings on Heterobilharzia americana in dogs.
Drake arrived at Texas A&M’s Small Animal Teaching Hospital in 2023 with weight loss and gastrointestinal problems. Clinicians confirmed infection with H. americana, a flatworm whose larvae are released by freshwater snails, penetrate a dog’s skin, and later produce eggs shed in feces. Drake’s littermate also tested positive; the littermate recovered with treatment, but Drake died of complications despite aggressive care.
That case pushed Aicher and Poellmann to ask how many dogs actually carry the parasite. Preliminary findings showed more than 20% of certain dog populations in Texas and the Southwestern United States were infected. Follow-up work found rates approaching 28% in some Texas groups and about 24% along communities in the lower Colorado River Basin.
Not just water dogs
The team partnered with Labrador and Portuguese water dog communities, collecting fecal samples at AKC hunt tests and working with collaborators such as Dr. Adler Dillman’s lab at UC Riverside after snails along California’s Colorado River tested positive. Infections also appeared in breeds not traditionally linked to water exposure, including French bulldogs, Chihuahuas, and boxers.
Aicher noted that before Poellmann’s fieldwork, the assumption was that Labs and water-loving dogs were the main concern. Documented cases across many breeds suggest a broader problem, with prevalence comparable to parasites that already have routine testing and prevention guidance.
There is currently no medication officially approved specifically to treat H. americana in dogs. Veterinarians often use a combination of praziquantel and fenbendazole, though high praziquantel doses can make dogs feel worse, Aicher said. Poellmann recommended testing every four to six months—or more often for high-risk dogs—as the safest current protection strategy, alongside avoiding freshwater exposure where feasible.
What it means for pet owners
If your dog swims in freshwater in Texas, the Southwest, or other reported regions—or travels widely—ask your veterinarian about screening for Heterobilharzia americana. Early detection matters because some infected dogs show no symptoms while others develop severe organ disease. Water-loving breeds such as Labs may still benefit from name inspiration on our Labrador Retriever names page, and Frenchie households can browse French Bulldog names while focusing on health first.
The Drake Project continues to collect treatment records and hopes to partner with pharmaceutical companies on a safer preventative. Until then, awareness and testing are the main tools owners have.
Source
Texas A&M VMBS — The Dog Behind The Discovery (October 13, 2026; Ye (Vivian) Chen).
Featured image is an AI-generated illustration and not a photo of Drake or any real dog.
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