Heartworm
A mosquito-borne parasitic disease that mainly infects dogs; prevention is far safer and simpler than treatment.
What Is Heartworm
Heartworm is a parasite transmitted through mosquito bites; adult worms live in the heart and pulmonary arteries. It mainly infects dogs, though cats can be infected too, with different symptoms and disease course. If left untreated, the worms keep multiplying and blocking blood vessels, eventually leading to heart failure.
Prevention Matters Far More Than Treatment
Monthly oral or topical preventives are currently the most effective and safest option — giving them on schedule can almost completely prevent infection. Once infected, treatment requires staged use of an adulticide with strict activity restriction, and both the risk and discomfort are much higher than the prevention stage.
Signs of Infection and Care Points
Early infection usually shows no obvious symptoms; as worm numbers increase, coughing, reduced exercise tolerance, and fatigue appear, progressing to heart failure in severe cases. Get an annual heartworm test (especially before starting preventives, or before resuming them after a lapse), and keep preventive medication uninterrupted.
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Sources:
- American Heartworm Society
This site is for general reference only and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis. If your cat shows unusual signs, please see a vet promptly.