Heartworm Disease, It is Not Just a Canine Catastrophe

Heartworm disease, you probably know about it if you own a dog. Certain parts of the United States are a hot beds for the malady. These areas are in the mosquito belts of the mid West and South. But the disease can also be found in any of our 50 states. You may think that only your outdoor dog need protection but your indoor cat is equally at risk.

The disease in cats is very different than that seen in dogs. Both are infected by the bite from a contaminated mosquito. In the dog, the life cycle from bite to clinical signs is usually 6 months. For a cat, the symptoms may show up as early as three months after being bitten. The initial clinical presentation can be very mild, and mimic something as common as hairballs

In dogs and cats, the first indications of a problem can be a moist cough. If x-rays are taken at this time, it can be confused with feline asthma or allergic airway disease. To complicate matters, the signs that you may see in your infected cat can change from month to month. Each cats reacts uniquely to the heartworms growing and dying in their major vessels of the lungs and heart. Sometimes the first and only sign you will see is sudden death.

In dogs and cats, the first indication of heartworm disease can be a moist cough.

Testing is available to screen your cat for the presence of heartworms. Alas, the testing procedures are fraught with inconsistent results. This is due to the distinctive biological nature of cats and not an inaccurate test.

The best way to protect your cat from this potentially deadly disease is to have it placed on a heartworm preventative by your veterinarian. The medication is safe, effective. For more information, see your veterinarian because it is “Your Pet…Health Matters.”