How To Deal With Heart Worm In Felines.
Dirofilaria immitis is the scientific name of the heartworm both in felines and canines . Heartworm in cats is a potentially tough illness for your pusscat 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 evolve into fully grown worms, these parasites live in the right side of the heart and/or the pulmonary arteries. The cat heartworm comparatively, has a relatively short life of 2 -3 years and the pussycat's immune system produces an antigen to fight against them in their pre-larva stage.
Symptoms
Heartworms lead to various difficult conditions that include heart failure, blocked arteries, coughing, wheezing, laboured breathing, anorexia, vomiting, lethargy, weight loss and in extreme cases, death. If your pussy (or dog) has been bitten by mosquitoes then she is liable to a heartworm illness.
Treatment
Heartworm is a very serious illness which needs to be treated by your veterinarian 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 tests to determine the presence and severity of the heartworm problem.
The various tests your veterinarian can carry out 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 arteries feeding the lungs and are another aid in tackling the problem.
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 complications. However, some vets prescribe steroids to reduce the inflammation of the lungs and the arteries feeding the lungs.
Commonly, medicines use a low dose of insecticide to kill any developing microfilariae in your cat's bloodstream. Natural herbal preventatives work in a similar fashion and are kinder to your cat's body. However, these heartworm treatment do NOT kill adult heartworms, so I recommend regular 6 monthly checks 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 guidelines 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 natural additives will assist to keep the mosquitoes away.
Plenty of fresh clear water should always be close by, particularly if you have an indoor cat. Indoor pusscats are less likely to become infected 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-ridden locality, you will have take preventative measures before the season and carry on with the treatment through to its end. Citronella oil and water is a common insect repellent you can use to keep mosquito bites down to a minimum.
Preemptive medicines and treatments are being continuously cultivated year after year looking for a cure. So be sure to consult your vet and find out about which heartworm prevention treatment is currently the best to use. This way, you can prevent your kittycat from becoming sick and possibly dying through those abhorrent bloodsucking parasites known as dirofilaria immitis or those horrible heartworms!.
How To Deal With Heart Worm In Felines.
Heartworms both in cats and dogs are scientifically named dirofilaria immitis. The are caused by mosquito bites and when the larvae form into fully grown Heartworms, these parasites take up residence in the right side of the heart and/or the pulmonary arteries.
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