Feline Heartworm Prevention Awareness

Remember CATS CAN GET HEARTWORM DISEASE TOO!!!

We hope the following information will help to shed light on this under-diagnosed disease in our feline friends! Remember they are susceptible to heartworm disease too!

What Is Feline Heartworm Disease And How Is It Different From Canine Heartworm Disease


Our feline companions are infected with heartworms in the same manner as our canine companions. However cats are considered to be resistant hosts for heartworm disease with less than 20% of infected cats even displaying circulating microfilariae (adult heartworm offspring). When microfilariae are present in an infected cat’s body some cats seem to be able to rid themselves of the infection spontaneously. Medically, there is an assumption that felines have developed a strong immunity to heartworm which is why they are able to clear infections on their own.


Cats infected have a significantly smaller population of worms as compared to dogs. There are usually only a few worms present that live for 2-3 years. Typically only 1-25% of the worms circulating even fully develop into adults in experimentally infected cats.


So if all of the above is true, why even worry about heartworm preventative in cats? While our feline friends may be able to clear infections on their own the presence of heartworms causes significant bodily damage even if eliminated. New and dying worms can result in mild-severe lung inflammation that may often mimic (and therefore be incorrectly diagnosed) asthma or bronchitis. However, the lung inflammation due to heartworm in our feline friends is now known to be a serious medical concern and is called Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease (HARD).


Which Cats Are Affected?


Logically outdoor cats with more time spent around mosquitos are more likely to become infected. However, research has shown that a relatively high proportion of cats, considered by their owners to be indoor only, also develop heartworm disease.


What Are The Clinical Symptoms?


The symptoms heartworm positive cats display may be very non-specific and will often mimic other diseases (bronchitis, asthma). An infected cat may display generic signs of illness including lethargy, cough, open mouth breathing, wheezing, vomiting intermittently, weight loss, lack of appetite, gagging, and rapid breathing. As the symptoms are non-specific and often overlooked heartworm disease is thought to be much more prevalent in our feline population than we actually know.


How Is Feline Heartworm Disease Diagnosed?


Feline heartworm disease is a difficult diagnosis which often results in it being overlooked as a possible cause for respiratory symptoms. If clinical symptoms create a suspicion of heartworm disease multiple diagnostic tests need to be performed to gather evidence of heartworm disease. Sending a blood sample out to a laboratory can add evidence to support heartworm disease, and often needs to be combined with clinical symptoms, radiographs (x-rays) and potentially echocardiograms (ultrasound of the heart).


How Is Feline Heartworm Disease Treated?


If your cat is found to have feline heartworm disease but is not symptomatic, some time may be given without treatment to allow natural elimination of an infection. A positive cat with clinical symptoms can take steroids to decrease lung inflammation and minimize lung symptoms such as cough and difficulty breathing. There is currently no FDA approved medications to actually kill adult heartworms. Felines exhibit particularly dangerous allergic responses to the dead worms with treatment, and therefore treatment is very risky. The mediation used to treat canine heartworm disease has been shown to be very toxic to cats even at very low doses. The lack of available medication and treatment protocols for feline heartworm disease should prompt us as feline owners to take prevention very seriously.


Feline Heartworm Preventatives:

At Glove Cities Veterinary Hospital we carry one specific product that is safe and effective at heartworm prevention.

Revolution (by Pfizer) is a once a month topical preparation (applied to the skin) that is approved for heartworm prevention in cats. It has the added benefit of being approved for the use of flea control, treats and controls hookworms and roundworms, and treats and controls ear mites.

Thank you for your attention to this serious issue! I hope this information has been helpful and informative. Call or stop by anytime for more information about these products.

Dr. Santspree