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Dirofilaria immitis is the scientific name of the heartworm both in cats and dogs . Heartworm in cats is a potentially acute ailment for your pet and this article points out the causes and symptoms as well as heartworm treatment and prevention in cats.
Causes
Heartworms are caused by mosquito bites and when the larvae grow they progress into fully grown worms, these bloodsucking worms take up residence 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 pussycat's immune system produces an antigen to fight against them in their pre-larva stage.
Symptoms
Heartworms causes various fatal 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 cat (or dog) has been bitten by mosquitoes then she is liable to a heartworm ailment.
Treatment
Heartworm is a very serious condition 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 pulmonary arteries. Your vet will be able to carry out various proceedures to determine the presence and severity of the heartworm problem.
The various tests your vet can perform 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 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 problems too. As the worms die after 2-3 years, they can constrict the arteries of the heart and lungs causing further problems. However, some vets administer steroids to reduce the inflammation of the lungs and the pulmonary arteries.
Commonly, medicines use a low dose of insecticide to kill any growing larvae in your cat's bloodstream. Natural herbal preventatives work in much the same way and are kinder to your cat's internal organs. Even so, these heartworm treatment do NOT kill adult heartworms, so I recommend regular 6 monthly checkups for heartworm.
Prevention
My mantra 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 sometimes. These two natural additives will assist to keep the mosquitoes away.
Plenty of plenty of uncontaminated water should always be available, particularly if you have an indoor kittycat. Indoor pussy 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 locality, you will have take precautionary action before the season and continue with the treatment through to its conclusion. Citronella oil and water is a natural insect repellent you can use to keep mosquito bites down to a minimum.
Preventative medicines and treatments are being continually cultivated year after year in search of a remedy. So be certain to talk to your veterinary surgeon and make sure of which heartworm prevention treatment is currently the best to use. This way, you can prevent your pussy from becoming ill and possibly dying through those abhorrent bloodsucking parasites known as dirofilaria immitis or those horrible heartworms!.
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