|
|
| |
Feline Heartworm Disease: A Deadly Problem in
Southwest Florida
by
Dr. Brett Beckman
August, 2004
Pet owners in Florida
are becoming more aware of the importance of
preventing feline heartworm
 disease. The
incidence has recently been reported as high
as six to ten percent in our state.
Unfortunately heartworm disease in cats is
not treatable as it is in dogs. This makes
prevention extremely important in
controlling a serious threat to our feline
friends. The article that follows will
address this dreadful disease and answer
some common questions about the topic. |
|
|
|
In this issue....
Feature: |
| |
|
Feline Heartworm
Disease
by:
Dr. Brett Beckman
|
|
|
| |
Heartworms are
transmitted when an infected mosquito bites
the host. Heartworms are most prevalent in
dogs but an alarming number of cats are now
being diagnosed with new test methods.
Other species that are much less commonly
affected include ferrets, sea lions and even
humans. When the mosquito bites, the larvae
present in the mosquito mouthparts migrate
into the tissue of the host, in our case the
cat. The larva undergoes several changes
over the next six months migrating through
the body as it enlarges, eventually ending
up in the right side of the heart and the
pulmonary artery. It is here that the
damage occurs.
|
Unfortunately there is no treatment
for heartworms in cats.
Medications used to treat dogs to
cure heartworms are very toxic |
 |
and can kill cats.
Affected cats are treated
symptomatically to control signs
that may include respiratory
distress and vomiting.
Heartworm preventive is institituted
to |
| eventually kill the circulating
larvae and prevent further
infection. By starting
preventive medication in infected
cats we prevent further infection
and at the same time offer some hope
that the heartworms will eventually
die before they become fatal to the
cat. This can take two
to three years. During this
time the worms die and cause severe
inflammatory reactions in the lungs.
Asthma-like symptoms, severe
respiratory distress, pulmonary emobolism
and acute death are possible during death of
the adult worms. |
A common misconception
is that if a cat is indoors it doesn’t need
heartworm preventive. Nothing could be
further from the truth. Outdoor cats are at
high risk because of repeated exposure to
bites from infected mosquitoes. However at
the same time the immune system becomes
better able to recognize and fight the
larvae before they have a chance to become
adults. The immune system of indoor cats
don’t recognize the injected larvae and
therefore are less likely to be able to
fight off infection.
Tests to detect
heartworms in cats have become more
sensitive and specific over the last several
years. Current veterinary recommendations
include testing all cats in southwest
Florida. Both infected cats and those that
test negative should be placed on
preventive.
 |
Heartworm disease in
cats commonly misunderstood leading to lack
of preventive care and infection of both
indoor and outdoor cats. Prevention is
relative inexpensive and simple to
administer in a monthly chewable tablet.
Please contact your veterinarian to schedule
an appointment for heartworm testing and
preventive medication. This is the first
step to stopping the spread of this deadly
disease in our feline friends. |
Dr. Beckman owns and
operates Burnt Store Animal Hospital in
Punta Gorda. His special interests are
canine and feline medicine, dentistry, oral
surgery and ophthalmology. He teaches
veterinarians throughout the United States
and Canada basic and advanced veterinary
dentistry and has published articles on the
subject. 
Please
click here for additional information
or if you would like to contact the
author of this article, Dr.
Brett Beckman
. Thank you!
|
|
|
"If you are really living... you are enjoying the Punta Gorda
Life"
|
