Cats And Heartworm Prevention

Heartworm disease in cats is very different from heartworm disease in dogs.

Cats and heartworm prevention.

Heartworm is rarer in cats than it is in dogs but when cats do contract it the outlook isn t good. Many cats may cough and be misdiagnosed with asthma. If you find it difficult to give pills you may prevent a liquid treatment that you apply to the skin. A cat that has developed heartworm disease has demonstrated that it is susceptible to heartworm infection and both outdoor and indoor cats are at risk.

More information about hard. It s important to give your cat monthly heartworm preventives which are available in both spot on and pill form. Finding the best heartworm medicine for your cat should be done in partnership with your veterinarian. Since cats have so few heartworms diagnosis can be very challenging.

Heartworm prevention for cats comes in two forms. Heartworm disease in cats is primarily a lung disease. Heartworm associated respiratory disease hard. Diagnostic testing efforts antibody and antigen measurements x rays and echocardiograms will typically be repeated at 6 to 12 month intervals to determine whether the management strategies have been effective.

For this reason heartworm prevention for dogs is by far the best option and treatment when needed should be administered as early in the course of the disease as possible. You should consider where they spend most of their time indoors or outdoors and how often you want to give them heartworm medication. Prescription heartworm prevention medicine for cats. Heartworm prevention is available in oral heartworm treatments like flavored chewable tablets and soft chews that are easy to give as a treat and they also come in single dose liquid that s applied topically to the skin and fur which is great for cats that are not very fond of medicines.

Learn more about heartworm in cats and the steps you can take to prevent it in the first place. To prevent heartworm disease in your cat begin heartworm prevention as soon as possible after your veterinarian tests for the disease. Heartgard and interceptor come in a pill format for cats. If you are concerned about other pets licking and grooming each other a pill may be the preferred option.

Heartworm prevention products are safe for cats 6 weeks of age and older and they should be continued year round for the entire life of your pet. Continued monitoring of cats with heartworm disease is an essential component of any treatment plan. Heartworm infection occurs when a mosquito carrying infective heartworm larvae bites into a cat for a blood meal. Another clinical sign is sudden death.

Some cats may vomit.