Dirofilaria immitis is the scientific name of the heartworm both in felines and canines . Heartworm in cats is a potentially serious condition for your feline and this article points out the causes and symptoms as well as heartworm treatment and prevention in cats.
Causes
Heartworms are introduced by mosquito bites and when the larvae form they unfurl into fully grown worms, these bloodsucking worms live in the right side of the heart and/or the pulmonary arteries. The cat heartworm normally, has a relatively short lifespan of 2 -3 years and the cat's immune system produces an antigen to fight against them in their pre-larva stage.
Symptoms
Heartworms lead to various tough acute conditions that include heart failure, blocked arteries, coughing, wheezing, laboured breathing, anorexia, vomiting, lethargy, loss of weight and in extreme cases, death. If your feline (or dog) has been bitten by mosquitoes then she is liable to a heartworm condition.
Treatment
Heartworm is a very serious disease which needs to be treated by your vet as the worms are parasite that will feast on the vital areas around your cat's heart and the arteries to the lungs. Your veterinarian will be able to carry out various proceedures to determine the presence and severity of the heartworm problem.
The various tests your vet can use will include blood tests and X-rays which detect the presence of heartworm. An antigen test detects proteins in the bloodstream from the breakdown of the worm. Ultrasound tests produce an image of the heart and the pulmonary arteries and are another aid in tackling the condition.
There is no best heartworm treatment and it is not just the live heartworms that are damaging your cat. The dead and dying cause complications too. As the worms die after 2-3 years, they can block the arteries of the heart and lungs causing further problems. However, some vets administer steroids to reduce the inflammation of the lungs and the arteries.
Commonly, medicines use a low dose of insecticide to kill any growing larvae in your cat's blood. Natural herbal preventatives work in a similar fashion and are kinder to your cat's body. Even so, these heartworm treatment do NOT kill adult heartworms, so I recommend regular 6 monthly checkups for heartworm.
Prevention
My belief is that prevention is better than cure and as there is no cure for heartworm in cats it is imperative to take the appropriate precautions. The normal rules of keeping your cat healthy apply and include a natural, well balanced diet of fresh raw foods with garlic and yeast mixed in occasionally. These two ingredients will assist to keep the mosquitoes away.
Plenty of fresh uncontaminated water should always be accessible, particularly if you have an indoor kittycat. Indoor kittycats are less likely to become infected than those living outside but heartworm prevention is far better practiced for all cats just to be on the safe side.
If you live in a mosquito-infested country, you will have take preventative action before the season and continue with the treatment through to its conclusion. Citronella oil and water is a authentic insect repellent you can use to keep mosquito bites down to a minimum.
Preventative medicines and treatments are being constantly cultivated year after year looking for a cure. So be certain to speak to your veterinary surgeon and learn about which heartworm prevention treatment is currently the best to use. This way, you can prevent your cat from becoming ill and even dying through those abhorrent bloodsucking parasites known as dirofilaria immitis or those horrible heartworms!.
Outside Rabbit Hutch - Tips On How To Locate One: Try Both Online And Regional Shops To Find The Best For Your Pet
Now that you have a pet rabbit you will find it's time to locate an outdoor rabbit hutch. Outdoor rabbit hutches can be found in two ways...
Indoor Rabbit Cages - Ideas On What To Look For In A Home For Your Pet Bunny
If you have a pet bunny or two that you want to keep inside you will need to consider and purchase indoor rabbit cages. There are some things that you should keep in mind when considering purchasing your rabbit cage and among these are...
Outdoor Rabbit Hutches- Suggestions To Look At When Choosing Or Building One For Your Furry Pet Bunny
Outdoor rabbit hutches make a good home for your pet bunny if you can't leave your rabbit inside for some reason. What those reasons are vary from home to home. Whatever your reason be sure to follow these quick tips on providing your .....
Going Green With Organic Pet Supplies
More and more people are starting to take the term "going green" and applying it to their daily lives. Hybrid cars are becoming more popular.
Ware Rabbit Hutches - High Quality And Price Efficient Housing For Your Pet Rabbit Which Look Excellent In The Yard
What makes Ware rabbit hutches such a good way to house your pet bunny? If you are looking for a home for your rabbits, Ware rabbit hutches certainly deserve more than one look. Not only do they look great in the yard but they also...
Pet Stores Is A All New Page Within A Blogging Site Concerning Pets
Pet Stores is the new home for pet supply ads and resources that we have searched the web to identify. Our Pet Stores page is updated on a regular basis to bring you the best in pet products and services as we find them.
Recent Comments