As most pet owners know, heartworm treatment for dogs is different from that for cats.
It is strictly forbidden to give your cat treatment against the heartworm designed for a dog – or vice versa. Even if you own dogs and cats, you should always give them drugs designed for their species.
Known symptoms of heartworm in cats:
62% of cats will eliminate the parasite spontaneously. However, two negative scenarios remain possible:
- Difficult recovery: Even though there are no more worms in the body, some cats are struggling to recover from the infestation. As for the dog, it lacks air, vomits yellow bile (because of the destruction of red blood cells), urine the blood and pushes the bowl. Only a treatment will allow the animal to recover.
- Sudden death: This is an extremely rare case in which breathing difficulties and organ damage lead to the sudden death of the animal. Some cats die with one worm and no symptoms. This phenomenon is still unexplained today. Some vets think it’s an allergy.
The treatment of the heartworm is not easy. Your goal is to get rid of it, even if you have to consider several factors.
The first thing to do is to take your cat to the vet because he will be able to do tests to determine the number of worms in your pet’s heart. He may also know how worms affect your cat and whether your cat is able to cope with the possible side effects of the treatment.
Heartworms are a very serious disease because they attack vital areas around your cat’s heart. The treatment can sometimes be serious.
Veterinarians are trained to treat heartworms in cats and dogs. Even if you can buy treatment medications at a store, you should always consult your veterinarian before giving anything to your pet.
Treating your cat against heartworm may not be very effective at times because cats are extremely difficult to treat. Dying worms also have side effects, often causing more than a third of cats to have serious problems.
Dying worms can lodge in the arteries of the heart, which are already inflamed because of the presence of worms. When a hosted worm starts to break down, it can cause very serious problems. Animals with a severe heartworm infestation may need to spend time in the hospital to ensure they are properly treated.
Some cats may not be able to take some type of medication for the treatment of heartworm. Depending on the side effect and the effect of the drug on the cat, some breeds may not be able to take some of the best medicine.
To determine the best treatment options for your cat, your veterinarian will have to perform several tests. Once the tests are complete, your veterinarian will be able to tell you the best options available for treatment.
With all diseases, prevention is much better and safer than treatment. Make sure you talk to your veterinarian and find out which heartworm prevention medication is the best to use.
Your vet can tell you what you need to get and how to use it. In this way, you can prevent your pet from contracting heartworm – as well as the serious side effects and problems that come with it.
This article is merely informative, at Petsfeed.co we do not have the power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the vet in the event that it presents any type of condition or discomfort.
