Heartworm disease is a serious disease that requires aggressive treatment when diagnosed. In general, your cat should be tested for heartworms on a yearly basis. If the test is negative, then your vet will most likely encourage your cat to be on a heartworm prevention medication once a month. Heartworm disease is caused by a worm that can be small or as long as a foot. This worm can invade the heart, lungs and blood vessels of a cat. Dogs usually have hundreds of worms, however, cats may only have one or three present. The severity of the disease is the same despite the low number. Heartworms can cause damage to a cat by causing secondary infections including heartworm associated respiratory disease (HARD). Treatment for heartworms in cats may not be as effective as treatment for dogs. Consult your vet clinic Dahlonega, GA for more details.
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