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Austin, Texas 78729

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FELINE HEARTWORM DISEASE

In the past, feline heartworm disease was not considered an important problem because it was not easily recognized and did not seem very prevalent.  Today we have an increased understanding of the disease and how is affects the cat.

Signs of heartworm disease include collapse, sudden death, convulsions, vomiting, diarrhea, blindness, difficulty breathing, coughing, lack of appetite, weight loss, and lethargy.  Sudden death can occur as a result of even a single worm infecting the cat.

This disease has been diagnosed somewhat more frequently in male cats than in females.  Feline heartworm disease can occur in any area that dogs get heartworms.  Mosquitoes can transmit heartworms year round in Austin, TX.  Cats develop heartworm infection by being bitten by several mosquitoes carrying the parasite over a two or three month period of time.  Cats can become infected with the worm at any age.  Cats with the disease do not tend to produce baby heartworms and therefore do not serve as a resource for new mosquitoes to perpetuate the disease. 

Unlike in dogs, there is no approved treatment for heartworm infection in cats.  In other words, there is no way for veterinarians to kill the adult heartworms and get rid of the disease.  Heartworms can die on their own in the cat because the cat is not the usual host that heartworms prefer.  The worms can live for many years in dogs, but they only tend to live for about 2 years in cats.  The best option for a heartworm infected cat is to allow the worms to die on their own.  The major risk is that veterinarians are unable to predict when this will occur.  Corticosteroids (prednisone, dexamethasone) can control the coughing and/or vomiting, but acute collapse and death can still occur even with this therapy.  Continued lung injury can occur after the heartworms die and the cat may have symptoms such as coughing and vomiting throughout the cat’s life. 

 In both dogs and cats, heartworms are much easier to prevent than to treat.  A heartworm preventative has recently become available for use in cats.  It is called Heartgard and is a chewable tablet that is given once a month.  It is recommended that all cats that spend any time outdoors be given Heartgard.  Keep in mind that indoor cats can also be bitten by mosquitoes on occasion and heartworm preventative would also keep them safe.

For additional information, please e-mail kpercival@cathospitalofaustin.com.

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