Heartworm disease--in cats

Your favorite feline is a special member of your family and deserves the best of care. This is the latest information about an important disease that can affect your cat. New tests are helping us track and treat this potentially deadly problem.

It seems that when it comes to heartworm disease, dogs and cats have a lot in common. Both get the disease from the pesky mosquito. But there is the potential for cats to have more severe reactions to the Heartworms, including sudden death. Even indoor cats are at risk.

Fluffy, a beautiful Persian cat, had been vomiting regularly for many weeks. Her owner assumed that hairballs had to be the problem in her extremely hirsute kitty. But when the usually ravenous Fluffy suddenly stopped eating, her owner became alarmed and called her veterinarian. After a thorough history, examination, and lab tests, a surprising diagnosis was made: Fluffy had Heartworm disease!

The most common signs--coughing, vomiting, breathing difficulties, weight loss, and lethargy--are often mistaken for other conditions. Heartworm disease in cats often affects the lungs rather than the heart and may cause injury that could leave your cat with permanent respiratory problems.

It is now easier than ever before to determine whether or not a cat has Heartworm disease. The more recently available accurate testing has pointed out the incidence of the disease, where in the past it was thought that the disease was only in very isolated cases because of the paucity of reliable testing.

Both treatment and non-treatment are risky because there is currently no approved product for treating adult Heartworms, and the onset of clinical signs is impossible to predict in cats that are left untreated. Even if the disease is treated, your cat may experience severe complications or even death when the worms die.

Prevention is the best medicine. Just as dogs are given medication to prevent Heartworm disease, there is also a monthly preventative for cats called Revolution. This is a topical medication, and also kills fleas and prevents ear mites. We recommend starting your cat on this preventative. It may give your feline friend the best shot at living nine long and healthy lives.

Click here for additional information about Heartworm Disease

Know Heartworms - The KNOW Heartworms campaign will educate veterinarians and cat owners about the real threat of this disease and the importance of prevention.