Recently Dirofilaria immitis infection in cats has been receiving a lot of attention. Cats are susceptible to heartworm, but they are much more resistant of getting infected compared to dogs.
Typically, cats do not show signs if they are infected and are not normally tested for heartworm. The prevalence of infection in cats is about 10% compared to dogs.
Infection in cats differ from dogs in several ways. Cats tend to harbour very few adult worms, maybe just one or two.
Even though cats get less worms, they have a relatively smaller body size than dogs. This may cause more problems and are still considered to be heavily infected.
The presence of heartworm larvae can cause a respiratory ailment often mistakenly identified as asthma. This is called Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease.
Compared to dogs, there is no approve treatment for adult heartworm in cats. It is better to have a preventive to keep them from getting infected with this worm.
Let’s be vigilant against this silent killer of your pets. Ask your vets about heartworm prevention for your pets!
To order yours, call Ms. Mylez at these numbers: 896-6386 / 896-2860 / 0908-896-7113
Enjoy peace of mind,
Dr. Sixto Carlos, DVM, MS
Pet Happiness Expert
Makati Dog and Cat Hospital
Serving Pet Parents near Mandaluyong, Makati, and BGC
“The St. Luke’s of Pet Hospitals” - from a Happy Client