Heartworm Disease
What is heartworm disease? Read about it according to the American Heartworm Society.
5 Myths regarding heartworm disease in cats: KNOW Heartworms.org
New Information Regarding Feline Heartworm Disease
Heartworm disease in cats has been somewhat of a mystery until recently. A new disease, called Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease (HARD), has been coined to help us understand what happens to a cat when it gets heartworm disease.
HARD occurs when the heartworm larva passed by the mosquito matures and settles in the lungs. The cat’s body reacts to the larva in an exaggerated immune response causing respiratory symptoms. These symptoms, which can include coughing, increased lung sounds, and other non-specific symptoms, are often misdiagnosed as asthma, allergic bronchitis, as the disease looks the same on x-ray as other respiratory diseases.
There is no cure for this disease.
Michigan has more reported cases of heartworm disease than even some southern states. We are not sure why this is, though we can be sure the disease is becoming more of a silent problem here in Michigan, especially in cats. More research and information about how mosquitos infect cats is becoming available, and why they can be infective all year long.
Mosquitoes are cold-blooded and have the capacity to slow their metabolism down in cool weather. If a mosquito goes dormant in an area of your house that is cool but not frozen (i.e. basement, cellar, attic, garage, etc), the infective heartworm larva can still be developing within the mosquito. When the temperature reaches somewhere in the high 40's, low 50's, the mosquito can become immediately infective and pose a danger for your pets.
Therefore, the best defense is a monthly preventative, given year round. Below are listed the preventatives that The Cat Practice carries and recommends.
Advantage-Multi® (imidaclopid + moxidectin) Topical Solution for Cats
- Heartworm preventative
- Flea treatment and preventative
- Ear mite treatment and preventative
- Roundworm treatment and preventative
- Hookworm treatment and preventative
Advantage-Multi® is a broad-spectrum liquid topical preventative applied to the base of the head. We recommend applying the preventative on the same day each month year round for maximum protection.
Please ask your doctor or technician for details.
Heartgard® (ivermectin) Chewables for Cats
- Heartworm preventative
- Hookworm treatment and preventative
This soft, chewable tablet is accepted readily by most cats like a treat. We recommend giving the reventative on the same day each month year round for maximum protection.
Please ask your doctor or technician for details.
These heartworm preventatives are available by prescription only.
They are not sold in pet stores, and be wary of discount pet pharmacies on the internet or by phone – sometimes the products aren’t what they should be, and products sold by online pharmacies are not guaranteed by the manufacturer.
Your cat will need to have a current annual physical exam by a doctor before any of these preventatives can be dispensed.
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