How to Treat Cats for Heartworms

Heartworms are very common in dogs, but much less so in cats; however, the infection is quite serious in a cat and can even be fatal if left untreated. However, sometimes less treatment is actually better as the treatments carry as many risks as the illness itself. Keep a close eye on your cat while it is healthy. Know how it acts in its day to day life so that if your cat's behavior should happen to change, you will be able to recognize that change.

Instructions

1

Take your cat to the vet to determine what to do about the worms. If there are no clinical symptoms of the illness then the vet may choose to simply not treat the cat at all and wait two to three years for the worms to die. Your vet will likely want to see the cat once or twice a year to check it for signs of worsening.

2

Monitor your cat to determine if symptoms of heartworm disease are in evidence. The cat may be wheezing, sluggish, or be coughing a lot. If so, Prednisone might be prescribed to keep the symptoms from interfering too much with the cat's normal life. This is merely therapy for the condition, not a cure.

3

Check your cat often for possible developing symptoms as the more severe symptoms may require the animal to be put on oxygen, have its bronchial tubes dilated or have fluids given intravenously. These are extreme measures but without them your cat will most likely die.

4

Treat your cat with Caparsolate if it has signs of heartworms but does not respond to the normal course of treatments. This drug is designed to treat adult worms. The risks are high because the dead worm can cause a pulmonary embolism. About 1/3 of all cats that get this treatment will face dangerous, potentially fatal complications due to the serious side effects of this drug. Make sure the cat is kept confined away from the outdoors for the next few weeks following treatment.

5

Let the worm live out its lifespan and you may have risks; treat the cat with adulticide and you may have risks. The best choice for your cat will be determined by your veterinarian. Sometimes surgical removal of the worms is the only option left when all else has failed.