Feline Heartworms Becoming Epidemic

No cure for feline heartworms
4/30/2004 http://www.news8austin.com/content/h...105538&SecID=2

Heartworm season is fast approaching.

That's when the rain comes, the temperatures rise, the mosquitoes thrive and
the nasty parasites set up house in your pet's heart and lungs.

A dangerous problem in dogs is fast becoming a fatal problem for felines.

"Heartworms is a disease that has crossed over to the feline population over
the last five years. We're actually seeing it on the rise in the feline
population. It's something that is incredibly serious. It kills a lot of dogs
and cats each year," Dr. Craig Prior, a veterinarian, said.

Heartworms grow to be 12- to 14-inches long, they live in the chambers of the
heart and blood vessels of the lungs. Eventually they strangle the respiratory
and cardiovascular systems. And it all starts with one mosquito bite. The
mosquito finds a healthy dog or cat and when it feeds, the baby heartworms are
injected under the skin. It takes about six months for them to become adults
and migrate to the heart and lungs.

Cats are not the natural host for heartworms. In fact, most outdoor cats can
develop immunity.

Research shows indoor cats face a big risk. They're less likely to become
immune and much more likely to become infected with heartworms and die.
Heartworms in dogs can be treated and cured but in cats it's fatal.

The good news is that there is a way to prevent it. All it takes is giving
your cat or dog a tablet once a month. Some animals may be able to get an
injection to keep worms away for six months.

Preventing heartworms is a lot easier than treating it, Prior said.

The only treatment that is available is a toxic drug and it is not available
to cats.

"If a dog contracts heartworms it can be treated. It's an expensive treatment
that's harsh on their systems. In cats, there is no treatment that will cure
them," he said.

So, if I read this right ... there is nothing we can do to protect our cats .... as of yet? :confused:

about this! My neighbor's outdoor cats come in the front hall where my cats roam (it's the closest they get to outside and the one "treat" I can give them from time to time). Are my cats at risk? I mean- to get it from....?

There is medication available, but in my situation it would cost a fortune! The article stated that cats that go in/out can develop an immunity. So does this mean let them out? I think not. :eek:

Heartgard for cats has been available for quite a few years, buta 6 months supply is $30 or more. If you have a lot of cats, it may be more cost-effective to make sure your screens are up to spec.

The dog medicine contains arsenic!!:eek:

My neighbors just adopted another great dane after having to euthanise their old gal after she had a stroke. The newcomer came from GA. (I think) and is heartworm pos. and going through the treatment which is very hard on her. Poor dog.

I had a huge scare with Calvin & heartworm. He tested positive but in the end was negative. They can only be transmitted thru mosquito bites. Calvin's case was HIGHLY unsual (only the second case in 30 years of my vets career) because he is indoor only. Both Calvin & Hobbes are on a monthly worm pill now. Vet said that the FDA has been trying to get ALL pet owners to administer worm pills just in case. The worming pill takes care of all types of worms...some which are transmittable to humans.
Claudia