Cat Corner : Frequently Asked
Questions and Concerns
Question:
Is heartworm disease really a problem in cats?
Answer:
Yes. Most pet
owners are familiar with the potential effects of heartworm
disease in dogs, but not many are aware that heartworrns can
effect cats, too. Recent studies have shown that cats
can contract heartworm disease from mosquitoes, just like
dogs can if they are not properly protected against heartworm
disease. If a heartworm-carrying mosquito bites a cat,
the immature stage of the heartworm will travel through the
cat, lodge in spaces in the cat’s lungs and heart, and
begin maturing.
During the stage when
an immature heartworm is growing in a cat, the cat's lungs
send up a horrible inflammatory reaction which looks just
like a cat is having asthma attacks. The cat has
coughing spells, and episodes when breathing is difficult.
A heartworm test for the cat and chest x-rays can help lead
to a diagnosis of heartworm disease in your cat. These
asthma signs can usually be controlled by appropriate steroid
anti-inflammatories and other drugs which your veterinarian
can prescribe. After the initial phase of growth, the
heartworm reaches an adult stage in the cat's lung where it
can live quietly for a few years without giving the cat too
much dificulty. However, when the adult heartworm dies
in the cat's lungs after a few years, it creates an intense
inflammatory reaction in the cat lung which can kill a cat
very quickly through respiratory distress.
Question:.
"What can be done to prevent heartworm infection in cats?
Answer:
We recommend
once-a-month heartworm prevention for every cat. There
is heartworm prevention available in a chewable treat for
cats, which most cats find appetizing. The occasional
cat who does not find the heartworm prevention appetizing
will usually have no problem eating it if it is shredded into
tasty canned cat food.
Question:. "Dogs are supposed to be tested for heartworms
before being started on heartworm prevention. Should I
have my cat tested before starting heartworm prevention?"
Answer:
If a cat is showing or has shown
clinical signs of heartworm disease, such as chronic
coughing, shortness of breath, or chronic vomiting then
heartworm testing and chest x-rays are recommended to
determine if the cat has heartworm disease before starting
heartworm prevention. If a cat has not been showing any
of these signs, then it is all right to go ahead and get them
started on the once-a-month heartworm prevention.
Question: "My cat is an indoor cat, so I
don't have to worry about heartworm disease, right?"
Answer:
Wrong. 50% of cats who are being
diagnosed as having heartworm infection are
"indoor" cats. It doesn't matter if a cat
goes outside or not because mosquitoes seem to get to them
regardless. Every cat, whether it is "indoor
only" or goes outside, should be getting once-a-month
heartworm prevention.
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