Symptoms & Treatment of Feline Heartworm Disease - Quic

Feline heartworm disease can leave cats emaciated and weak.

One: Causes

The hosts of feline heartworms are bloodsucking insects, such as mosquitoes. Mosquito activity peaks during the summer months, making this season the highest risk for infection. Cats are particularly susceptible to contracting heartworms during this time.

Two: Symptoms

Initial Stage: Chronic coughing, fatigue, heart murmurs, liver enlargement, fluid accumulation in the chest and abdomen, generalized swelling, and difficulty breathing.

Advanced Stage: Severe heart disease, overall weakness, nodular skin disease, and ultimately, the cat may die from exhaustion.

Three: Treatment Methods:

1. Adult Worm Elimination

Thiabendazole sodium, at a dose of 2.2 mg/kg body weight, should be administered via slow intravenous injection twice daily for two days. Aspirin can be given to the cat before, during, and after treatment for its benefits. Alternatively, arsphenamine hydrochloride, at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg body weight, can be given as a 1% solution in distilled water, administered via slow intravenous injection every 45 days. This medication is highly effective in worm expulsion.

2. Larval Elimination

Ivermectin at a dose of 0.05 to 0.1 mg/kg body weight can be administered via a single subcutaneous injection. Dichlorvos is the most effective larvicide, and a 7% dichlorvos solution at a dose of 0.2 ml/kg body weight should be injected subcutaneously. This treatment should be repeated every two weeks if necessary. Avoid using any insecticides or drugs that inhibit cholinesterase activity before and after the use of dichlorvos.

3. Heartworm Prevention

Prevention involves two main strategies: preventing bites from bloodsucking insects (mosquitoes, fleas, etc.), destroying mosquito eggs, and using medications for prevention. Diethylcarbamazine is an oral medication, with a dosage of 6.6 mg per kilogram of body weight, and should be taken during the mosquito and fly activity season. For cats with positive larval tests, diethylcarbamazine should not be used until the adult and larval worms have been eliminated with medication, after which it can be used for prevention.