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Much attention is paid to preventing and treating heartworm in dogs. But what about your cat? While infected mosquitoes prefer feeding on dogs, they can bite and infect cats. Heartworm manifests itself differently in cats than dogs. It takes less than 6 adult worms to create a moderate heartworm infection in cats that requires treatment. In dogs, 25 to 50 worms must develop for the same severity of infection. Feline heartworm infections produce more immune-related symptoms, while a dog's heart is the main worry when infected. Cats tend to develop lung problems with heartworm. Symptoms may include respiratory stress, coughing, and chronic vomiting. Heartworms in dogs can live 5 years. In cats, the life span in 2 to 3 years. P.S. Treatment for feline heartworm is often aimed at controlling symptoms and waiting out the worm's life span. |