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Until recently, heartworm disease was only heard of in dogs. Every puppy that went to his or her veterinarian was started on some kind of prevention. Although known by the veterinary community, no mention of the disease in cats was ever mentioned.
Now, veterinarians across the country are introducing a product called Heartgard for cats.
It is an Ivermectin based product that prevents the heartworm larvae from developing into adults.
The mode of transmission of heartworm larvae is through a mosquito. The mosquito bites an infected dog or cat taking a small amount of blood with it. Within this blood are tiny, microscopic, immature heartworm larvae. The mosquito then flies away and bites another animal. During the bite, the blood from the first animal and the second are mixed. During this mixture, the larvae are introduced into the second animal’s tissue. From there, they migrate into the blood stream where they continue to develop.
Lodging in the right side of the heart, the worms disrupt the amount of blood. The heart has to pump harder to push the same amount of blood through the body because of the room taken up by the worms. The presence of heartworms can cause permanent damage to the heart and lungs. This damage can occur even if there is only one adult heartworm inhabiting the heart. Even if there are no previous symptoms, as few as three heartworms will prove to be fatal to the cat.
Symptoms of heartworm disease in cats are vomiting, difficulty in breathing, coughing, lethargy, and sudden death. Contrary to popular belief, these symptoms can occur in ANY cat, even those kept inside. Studies show 55% of cats that test positive for heartworms were considered “strictly indoor cats.”
Another misconception is that heartworms only occur in the southern part of the United States. The fact is, heartworm disease has become a prevalent problem in all 50 states.
Feline heartworm disease is difficult to detect, there is no approved treatment to date and diagnosis is often guesswork. The disease is easily prevented though. Given a small dose of an Ivermectin product monthly, the risk of infection is removed and your cat has a much higher chance for a long and healthy life.
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