3 All About Pets • Volume 3 • Issue 2 • Jan–Apr 2023 PURR ZONE Heartworm Disease in Cats Heartworm disease is caused by a foot-long worm that thrives in the heart and lungs of the host. It causes severe lung disease and heart failure and also damages other organs. Dogs are the natural host for the organism, wherein, the worm lives inside the dog and matures, and produces offspring. However, cats are an atypical host for heartworms; they do not survive in cats till the adult stage. In cats, immature worms too can be dangerous and can cause a condition called heartwormassociated respiratory disease. Symptoms of Heartworm Disease in Cats Symptoms of heartworm disease include cough, asthma, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Difficulty in walking, fainting, or seizures are also observed. However, in some cases, sudden collapse and death could be the first signs. Diagnosis It is better to get your cat screened every 12 months to detect heartworms. Some of the screening methods are antigen and antibody tests, X-ray, ultrasound, and blood tests. Treatment As there is no recommended treatment for heartworm disease in cats, prevention is critical. Monthly heartworm preventives in the form of a spot-on or pill can be given to your cat. The line of treatment is symptomatic and not specific to heartworm; a veterinarian treats the secondary conditions based on the presenting symptoms. Furthermore, the medications used to treat the symptoms in cats is different from those used to treat dogs. If you observe mild symptoms in your pet cat, consult your veterinarian immediately. In cases of severe infection, hospitalization may be required to administer intravenous fluid and medications to treat the symptoms associated with the heart and lungs. In some cases, the veterinarian may also surgically remove the worms. Source: American Heartworm Society. Heartworm in cats https://www.heartwormsociety.org/. Accessed December 6, 2022.
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