How can I tell if my cat has heartworms?

Regina McKee

The last few days, one of my cats coughs and vomits a lot...my friend says it might have heartworm disease. How can I tell? Sad

Maia Shearer · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 3:40 pm Post subject:

oh regina, I'm afraid coughing and vomiting are signs of possible heartworm infection. Sad

but then again I'm not so sure, better check with your vet right away.

Regina McKee · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:27 pm Post subject:

if it's heartworm disease, then that's terrible... what are the other signs?

Amelia Bowman · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:30 pm Post subject:

when your cat loses weight, has breathing difficulty, and keeps on coughing, then it may be suffering from heartworm disease. if you suspect it may have the infection, i suggest you contact your vet immediately.

Libby Bowen · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 1:43 pm Post subject:

watch out for asthma-like symptoms and lethargy in your cat. i agree with Amelia, go see your vet as heartworm disease is really serious.

Maia Shearer · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 12:38 pm Post subject:

Regina McKee · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 4:12 pm Post subject:

Sasha MacNeille · Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 3:37 pm Post subject:

Regina, I think they have what they call an antigen test. The vet samples a blood of your cat and from there she can determine if your cat's got heartworms.

Melrose Clement · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 8:16 am Post subject:

is it important to get your cat tested for heartworms regularly?
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Maia Shearer · Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 9:46 am Post subject:

yes i think so. regular testing for heartworms is necessary for prevention. it can also check your cat for possible infection so you can implement some form of treatment right away and stop the disease from getting complicated.

Harvey Simmons · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 11:08 am Post subject:

They say there are no obvious symptoms of heartworm disease until it gets worse. So I think we should all have our cats checked regularly and use preventative heartworm medicine regularly.

Isabella Valencia · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 10:44 am Post subject:

i've read up on heartworms and resources say that it's nearly impossible to detect the presence of these pests, especially on the first 6 months. this is what makes them dangerous because if they can't be detected, it would be months before you find out that your pet is infested with them! and who knows? by that time, your cat might already be suffering from heartworm symptoms!

Michelle Pilver · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 9:18 am Post subject:

how can it be that they're impossible to detect? this worries me because i haven't had my pet tested for heartworms, ever. my cat doesn't show symptoms of the disease. could it be possible that my cat has heartworms even without her showing any symptom?

Isabella Valencia · Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 8:27 am Post subject:

i think that's because tests don't reveal anything until 7 months after initial infection.

Susie Lefler · Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 9:12 am Post subject:

Maia Shearer · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 9:51 am Post subject:

Sofia Blackbern · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 4:34 pm Post subject:

To determine heartworms in cats, a series of tests may be necessary. one of them is antigen test.

Angela Gellis · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 5:16 pm Post subject:

I don't know if this is true but I heard that there is currently no effective treatment for heartworm infection in cats. If this is true, this is really bad news.

Libby Bowen · Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 8:55 am Post subject:

yes, there are no products to treat heartworm disease in cats. i've also read that sometimes it is better not to treat it at all. however, there is supportive therapy for those that have lung disease.

Beatrice Dixon · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 4:06 pm Post subject:

Melrose Clement · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 8:47 am Post subject:

oh noes! there are no treatment for heartworms in cats? this means they could easily die from it? please tell me this isn't true. now i'm worried for my cats!
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Maia Shearer · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 10:34 am Post subject:

oh!

are you guys saying there is no sure way to treat cats with heartworms?

if that's the case, then i guess the only way is to start our cats on prevention.

Isabella Valencia · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 9:45 am Post subject:

unfortunately, there aren't that many treatments for heartworms in cats. i mean, at least as far as i know. i think it's because cats are not really "natural" hosts to heartworms, unlike dogs.

Libby Bowen · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 12:52 pm Post subject:

you're right. cats aren't natural hosts for heartworms. so, better make sure that your pet is protected from them.

Maia Shearer · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 10:58 am Post subject:

I read from AVMA website that there is currently no effective and safe treatment for heartworm infection in cats. It said that if a cat is diagnosed with heartworms, the vet can prescribe medications, which may only limit the inflammatory response, but they do not ensure full control of the disease.

Melrose Clement · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 9:02 am Post subject:

how sad it is that there's no safe and effective treatment for heartworms in cats! just think of all the cats that die because of this!
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Libby Bowen · Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 8:58 am Post subject:

it's really unfortunate. let's just hope that a cure can be produced soon.

Trish Coyne · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 12:58 pm Post subject:

so, our cats won't have to suffer this disease and its symptoms we best give them heartworm preventatives. there are preventatives here in pet shed that you might be able to use. better yet, ask your vet what he could recommend.

Maia Shearer · Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:10 pm Post subject:

like what trish said, our cats won't have to suffer if we're careful enough. we still can protect them if we start acting now.

Michelle Pilver · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:48 pm Post subject:

hartgard is a heartworm preventative, correct?

Libby Bowen · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 10:47 am Post subject:

yes, michelle. Heartgard is a heartworm preventative for dogs.

Michelle Pilver · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 1:46 pm Post subject:

there's no heartgard for cats?

what are the preventatives available for kitties, then?

Maia Shearer · Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 12:38 pm Post subject:

I know there's a Heartgard for Cats. It's a once-a month chew treat that prevents heartworm.

Amelia Bowman · Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:00 pm Post subject:

There is also Revolution. Its a monthly topical treatment which prevents heartworms. At the same time, it also treats fleas, ear mites, roundworms and hookworms.

Libby Bowen · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 9:04 am Post subject:

yes, Revolution can be used. and there's also Interceptor.