Students were itching for either Susie's echocardiogram results or her SNAP test results. We figured this would give us insight into what was going on with her. We also determined that if we figured out her results, that this might give us insight into all the other dogs that had the same symptoms as her.
So Mrs. Brinza got a hold of the SNAP test results (after students did some research on what it actually tested for), but did not come through on the echocardiogram results. :-(
However, the SNAP test was pretty informative! Susie tested positive for heartworm, whatever that is!
So Mrs. Brinza got a hold of the SNAP test results (after students did some research on what it actually tested for), but did not come through on the echocardiogram results. :-(
However, the SNAP test was pretty informative! Susie tested positive for heartworm, whatever that is!
Mrs. Brinza also wanted to honor student investigation ideas they had suggested right after watching Susie's initial video. One of the ideas that surfaced was to look at dog anatomy, and maybe that would give insight into what was going on with her. We had a lengthy discussion about the risks in looking at anatomy, especially if a dog was alive, as surgery always poses a risk. As a result, someone suggested looking at an autopsy of a dog.
With a little bit of research, autopsies in animals are apparently called necropsies, and it made sense to see if a necropsy of a dog with heartworm (like Susie) was available. It was!!! And boy was it interesting!
With a little bit of research, autopsies in animals are apparently called necropsies, and it made sense to see if a necropsy of a dog with heartworm (like Susie) was available. It was!!! And boy was it interesting!
Both the SNAP test and the necropsy of a dog with heartworm opened up a floodgate of both answering and asking questions. As a result, we revisited the DQB to both answer and ask new questions about heartworm! Way to go 6th!
Questions We've Figured Out Answers To:
New Questions that Arose about Heartworm:
It seems like all our new questions about heartworm are prompting us to learn more about heartworm! But one question is really of interest to us, and that involves our other dogs' data. Over time, the incidence of these symptoms increased in dogs over time, but at a slow rate, and it started with ONE dog, Buddy, back in 2014. If this disease is contagious, it's certainly not spreading at an alarming rate, but then again, more dogs are getting these symptoms.
This really has us wondering more about Buddy. Since most of Mrs. Brinza's students had her last year, we know that a sickness (which is made of matter) can't appear out of nowhere, and Buddy is the first dog to have these symptoms. Students are asking for more info about Buddy...like where has he been? And is he alive?
This really has us wondering more about Buddy. Since most of Mrs. Brinza's students had her last year, we know that a sickness (which is made of matter) can't appear out of nowhere, and Buddy is the first dog to have these symptoms. Students are asking for more info about Buddy...like where has he been? And is he alive?