Your Cats Health - Rapid Weight Loss - Feline heartworms are silent killers!

Is your cat losing a lot of weight? Is she vomiting without an apparent reason? Has she lost her appetite? Is she breathing rapidly or showing asthma-type symptoms? She could be infected with heartworm! Most cat owners are unaware that heartworms can be fatal. Cats acquire the parasite from mosquito bites, which although rare in the UK has happened here before.

A cat with even a single heartworm inside her can suffer. The illness can be sudden and have no apparent clinical signs. Though stray cats are more likely to be infected, even a house cat is susceptible to such infection. Heartworm infection in cats is harder to diagnose than it is in dogs. There is no known treatment for heartworm infection.

To safeguard a cat from being infected by heartworms, both oral and topical formulations are available. The oral drugs have to be administered once a month. These drugs prevent the development of adult heartworms and kill the heartworms before they start reproducing inside the cat and causing more damage. Heartworm is not yet present in the UK but ex-pats who have gone to live in Spain should take note. In such countries, besides keeping your cat free of heartworms, it should have a six monthly check-up, blood tests and appropriate vaccinations for it to live a healthy life. This means a compulsory visit to the vet. If unexpected treatment is needed then that will mean expensive vet bills! Let pet insurance prevent this if it is available where you live!