Whether your cat is an indoor or outdoor kitty, she can still get heartworms, which is deadly if left untreated and also affects the lungs.
Heartworm Awareness: Is YOUR Cat Protected?
Heartworm awareness has been an issue for doggie parents for many years, but unfortunately, many cat owners are unaware that their feline friends are also at risk. An organization called KNOW Heartworms is helping spread the word about this deadly problem.
KNOW says that, “One mosquito bite can infect a cat with heartworm.” They remind us that mosquitoes can and do get inside houses. Twenty eight percent of diagnosed cats are indoor cats. Most cat parents believe their cats are safe inside, thus only 5% of cats are given a monthly heartworm preventive.
What ARE Heartworms, and How Do They Affect My Cat?
Heartworms are exactly what they sound like. They are parasitic worms that live in the heart of your pet. A commonly unknown fact is that they also affect the lungs. The larvae, as well as the worm itself, take a toll on your pet’s health. Heartworms and their larvae cause obstructions in the cat’s arteries that supply blood to the lungs.
KNOW describes the stages of HARD this way: “…heartworm disease starts with the larvae, which penetrate into peripheral veins. The larvae are then swept in venous blood flow to and through the heart to the caudal pulmonary arteries. These arteries then almost immediately become enlarged and inflamed. After three or four months the immature worms, which are now over two inches long, usually die and cause a severe inflammatory respiratory response, which leads to significant pathology.”
Symptoms of Feline Heartworm (HARD)
- Anorexia
- Blindness
- Collapse
- Convulsions
- Coughing
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty Breathing
- Fainting
- Lethargy
- Rapid Heart Rate
- Sudden Death
- Vomiting
- Weight Loss
Are There Tests for Heartworm?
Unfortunately, many cats that have heartworm are misdiagnosed as asthma and other respiratory illnesses. There are antigen and antibody tests that can help diagnose or rule out feline heartworm, but these tests have their limitations, and a false test doesn’t mean that your cat might not have heartworm. Your vet will probably do a physical exam, run an x-ray or do an ultrasound of the heart, a blood count, an antigen test or antibody study, or microfilaria testing.
Are There Treatments for Heartworm or Prevention of Heartworm?
There are treatments, including a range from simply monitoring by x-ray to actual heartworm extraction. Of course the best possible treatment is prevention. There are four approved preventatives for feline heartworm:
- Heartgard® for Cats (Ivermectin, orally) from Merial
- Interceptor® (Milbemycin oxime, orally) from Novartis
- Revolution® (Selemectin, topically) from Pfizer
- Advantage Multi™ for Cats (Moxidectin / imidacloprid, topically) from Bayer
Websites for Further Information on Feline Heartworm, H.A.R.D.
The American Heartworm Society
