Cats / Health
Heartworm disease is talked about far more often in dogs, but cats can get it too, and when they do, it tends to be harder to detect and more dangerous. Understanding the basics helps you make an info
Heartworm disease is talked about far more often in dogs, but cats can get it too, and when they do, it tends to be harder to detect and more dangerous. Understanding the basics helps you make an informed decision with your vet about prevention.
Heartworms spread through the bite of an infected mosquito, not from other cats or dogs directly. A mosquito that has previously bitten an infected animal can pass on immature larvae, which travel through a cat's body and eventually settle in the blood vessels of the lungs and the heart. Even fully indoor cats are not completely safe, since mosquitoes readily enter homes, especially during monsoon months.
Cats are considered an unusual host for heartworms. Most larvae in cats do not survive to become adult worms, and cats typically carry far fewer worms than infected dogs. This does not make the disease harmless. Even one or two immature worms can trigger a serious inflammatory lung reaction sometimes called heartworm-associated respiratory disease, which looks very similar to asthma.
Heartworm disease is genuinely difficult to diagnose in cats, often needing a combination of blood tests and chest X-rays, and even then results can be inconclusive. Unlike in dogs, there is no approved medication to kill adult heartworms in cats, so treatment focuses on managing symptoms and supporting the cat through the illness.
Because treatment options are so limited, monthly preventive medication is the most effective tool available, and your vet can advise on a suitable option based on your cat's lifestyle and mosquito exposure in your area. This is worth discussing even for cats that never go outdoors.
Article content © Ravi Teja. All rights reserved.
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