Heartworms impress cat otherwise than dogs . determine the signs and symptoms of heartworm disease in hombre to serve foreclose heartworm - associated respiratory disease ( HARD ) .
Heartworm disease in CAT is a serious and sometimes fatal precondition cause byparasitesthat are transmitted by mosquitoes . Heartworm disease is less common in cats than in dogs , but cats can see more serious effects and have fewer treatment options . Because it ’s far easier to protect cats from heartworm contagion than to diagnose and treat the condition , you ’ll want to partner with your veterinarian to select the best heartworm hitch for your cat . Heartworm bar medicine is an important part of every kat ’s preventive care — even thosewho live indoors .
What Is Heartworm Disease?
When heartworms ( calledDirofilaria immitis ) infect the heart or lungs of an creature , it do a condition anticipate heartworm disease . These louse appear like cooked spaghetti and can grow to be 8 to 12 inches long . According to Jackie Kleypas , DVM , a clinical teacher at theUniversity of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicinein Columbia , Mo. , the disease is seen mostly in hot dog . " Typically a veterinarian will name heartworm disease much more often in dogs than big cat — roughly ten heel to one qat — but it ’s still a very serious disease in felines , " she says . TheAmerican Heartworm Societynotes that heartworms can also live in other animals , include black-footed ferret , slyboots , Hugo Wolf , and coyotes .
How Do Cats Get Heartworms?
Heartworm disease in cats can actually be traced back toinfected dogs , George Fox , wolves , and coyotes , but mosquito play a key role in transmission . Heartworms are actually transmitted to cat by mosquitos , who can pick up baby heartworms ( heartworm larvae ) from infected dogs and other animate being . When an septic mosquito bite a cat , it leaves these worms on the cat ’s pelt . The louse then crawl into the insect bite lesion go forth by the mosquito , move into the big cat ’s blood stream , and finally end up in its heart or the blood vessel of its lungs , resulting in heartworm disease .
TheCompanion Animal Parasite Councilnotes that human beings can become infected with heartworms , but it ’s very uncommon and the parasites ca n’t be directly transmitted from cat to humans .
Know the Signs of Heartworm in Cats
Heartworm disease affects cats differently than dogs . According to theAmerican Heartworm Society , dogs are natural host of heartworms , meaning the parasite are able to mate and produce materialization inside them . Dogs left untreated can have hundreds of worms in their eubstance , and adult worm can live for several years in andiron .
The American Heartworm Society says that in cats , however , most worms do n’t survive to become adults . cat touch on by heartworm disease typically have only one to three grownup worm , and these grownup worms go about half as long as they do in dogs . astonishingly , some cats with heartworm disease do n’t have any grownup worms , but even baby worms can cause serious damage .
Kleypas says that the signs and symptom of heartworm disease in cats are more varied than they are in dogs . " One common sign iscoughingor wheezing , which can look similar to asthma attack , " she explains . " Another common house isvomiting , and the third and most horrific is last . Some cats with heartworms may seem entirely normal and then suddenly have what looks like a stroke and die . "
Corinne Mucha
harmonise to Kleypas , the signs of heartworm disease in cats that mime asthma are together with refer to as HARD ( heartworm associated respiratory disease ) . Once the baby infective worms reach the lungs , a huge conflict takes place between the worms and a particular character of cell found in cat ' lung that are first-class worm killers , she explains . " That ’s why many of the sister worms do n’t survive to become adult heartworms like they do in dogs , " says Kleypas . " This is good , except for the fact that the death of these worm induce major damage to the lungs , and this damage is what causes the asthma - comparable signs . "
The presence of the worm - toss off cells in cats explains why they can have HARD without having a single adult heartworm present . " But in some cats , one to four worms can go to become adults , " Kleypas says . " Typically , the decease of these enceinte adult [ heartworms ] is what get cats to expire abruptly . The bushed adult break off , goes into the bloodstream , and freeze it — similar to a throw or heart attempt in a human . "
Diagnosis and Treatment of Heartworm Disease in Cats
" Unfortunately , " Kleypas says , " it ’s much more hard to diagnose heartworms in cats than in dogs , and many go undiagnosed . " She explains that the standard test done in dogs ( called an antigen test ) can be done in cat , but it does n’t work as well since cat incline to have far fewer worms than dogs . Another type of run ( known as an antibody trial run ) is often used and can detect the bearing of both baby and grownup worms . Chest X - ray and sonography imagery can be helpful as well .
treat heartworm disease is also more hard in qat than in frump . According to Kleypas , the drug used to pour down grownup heartworms in dogs is toxic to cats , and there is no safe , effective option . or else , she explains that African tea with heartworm disease receive supportive upkeep in the form of steroid hormone to minimise lighting , and there are drug available to treat the signs of HARD . septic cats are also come out on heartworm preventative medications in hope that the big cat will outlive the worm , Kleypas says . Recovery is possible , but it is potential the cat will have permanent impairment from the contagion .
How to Prevent Heartworm Disease in Cats
Because they are infected via mosquito bite , cats who spend a lot of time outdoorsare at a higher hazard , but indoor cat are n’t entirely safe either . Kleypas says that rough one in four cats diagnosed with heartworm disease is an indoor - only pet . TheCompanion Animal Parasite Councilalso observe that heartworms have been find in cats in all 50 country .
That means the respectable way to prevent your guy from being infect with heartworms is with preventive drugs . " The same class of drugs ( calledmacrocyclic lactones ) used to forestall heartworms in dogs is available as a monthly treatment for cat-o'-nine-tails , " Kleypas says . " And as an total bonus , many of these products will also prevent fleas , enteric parasites , and spike mites . " Feline heartworm prevention add up in oral or topical forms , and your cat ’s veterinary surgeon will work with you to find the best option for your pet .
Trent Eddy , DVM , ofIronhorse Veterinary Carein Leawood , Ks . , says he recommend topicals to his clients . He ’s been around enough cats to know that trying to get them to swallow something they do n’t desire to is trying ( for both the computed tomography and owner ) and often unsuccessful . " I ’m more comfortable recommend topicals because I know for sure the quat is puzzle the prevention it needs , " Eddy says . However , if your computed tomography takes unwritten medicine like a champ , you may prefer that option instead .
irrespective of whether the medication is give orally or locally , you ’ll need to either purchase it from your vet or get a prescription so you’re able to get it from a pet chemist’s shop . There are presently no raw or over - the - return heartworm hindrance that have been proven to be good and good , so you could draw a blank about an herbal solution or all important oil that can prevent heartworms from infect your cat .
Even though mosquitos are considered a seasonal scourge in many place , heartworm contraceptive are recommend for all computed axial tomography — even indoor cats — all year long . It ’s especially of import to be ordered if your cat ’s preventative medication includes aegis against other sponger too , like fleas or touch . Set a monthly reminder on your phone or differentiate your calendar so you do n’t miss a pane and have a lapse in reporting .
Are There Any Side Effects of Heartworm Preventatives I Should Watch For?
Side effects with heartworm incumbrance in cats are rare , but not unsufferable . If your bozo is sensible to the medicine , it could get vomiting , diarrhea , sluggishness or loss of coordination . If your qat has an allergic reaction , you might see itching , nettle rash , facial swelling , capture , or seismic disturbance .
If you find any of these signs in your cat after give him a heartworm preventative ( even if your cat has had the medication ten times before with no problems ) , contact your veterinarian as soon as possible . Eddy says that a possible side core with topical treatment could be hair personnel casualty at the dot of program . If you notice this , let your vet sleep with so they can change your cat ’s medication .
Can My Dog and Cat Use the Same Heartworm Prevention?
Kleypas cautions that while dog and cat heartworm preventative drug hold in the same compounds , you should n’t give what ’s meant for your cat to your dog ( or frailty versa ) . " The effective and safe sexually transmitted disease for dogs is immensely different than for hombre , " she explains . " For case , there are preventatives that require four times as much drug per pound of eubstance weight for cats versus dogs , while another contraceptive equipment requires only half the amount of drug per pounding of body weight for guy versus dogs . " It ’s important to speak with your veterinary surgeon to be sure the right preventative heartworm handling is used for your hombre to help keep them good from contagion .
Every cat is different , which is why it ’s important to work with your veterinary surgeon when pick out a heartworm preventative . They will aid you find the best one for your unique pet . Similarly , every preventative medication is different , so you ’ll want to read and watch the instructions for whatever you choose to check that you ’re administering it correctly and your computerized tomography gets the protection he needs . Closely following the instructions is authoritative for your safety as well — specially if your cat drive a topical product , which can rub off or be spilled without a close watch before , during , and after you administer the practice of medicine .
