Dirofilaria immitis is the scientific name of the heartworm both in cats and dogs . Heartworm in cats is a potentially ugly ailment for your pet and this article points up the causes and symptoms as well as heartworm treatment and prevention in cats.

Causes

Heartworms are caused by mosquito bites and when the larvae form they emerge into fully fledged worms, these parasites take up residence in the right side of the heart and/or the arteries to the lungs. 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 major acute conditions that include heart failure, blocked arteries, coughing, wheezing, laboured breathing, anorexia, vomiting, lethargy, weight loss and in extreme cases, death. If your kitty (or dog) has been bitten by mosquitoes then she is susceptible to a heartworm illness.


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 proceedures your vet can use will include blood tests and X-rays which detect the presence of heartworm. An antigen test detects proteins in the blood from the breakdown of the worm. Ultrasound tests produce an image of the heart and the arteries feeding the lungs and are another aid in tackling the disease.

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 constrict the arteries of the heart and lungs causing further complications. However, some veterinarians administer steroids to reduce the inflammation of the lungs and the pulmonary arteries.

Commonly, medicines administer a low dose of insecticide to kill any developing larvae in your cat's bloodstream. Natural herbal preventatives work in a similar fashion and are kinder to your cat's internal organs. Even so, these heartworm treatment do NOT kill adult heartworms, so I encourage regular 6 monthly tests for heartworm.

Prevention

My mantra is that prevention is preferable to 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 from time to time. These two ingredients will help to keep the mosquitoes away.

Plenty of plenty of good water should always be at hand, particularly if you have an indoor kitty. Indoor kittycats are less likely to become diseased than those living outdoors but heartworm prevention is far better practiced for all cats just to be on the safe side.

If you live in a mosquito-infested area, you will need to take preventative action before the season and carry on 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.

Preemptive medicines and treatments are being continually developed year after year looking for a cure. So be certain to talk to your veterinary surgeon and find out about which heartworm prevention treatment is currently the best to use. This way, you can prevent your cat from becoming sick and possibly dying through those vile bloodsucking parasites known as dirofilaria immitis or those horrible heartworms!.