|
Heartworm treatment for cats
and dogs isn’t the same. Never, under any circumstances, should
you give your cat heartworm treatment that is designed for a dog
– or vice versa. You
should always give pets medicine that is designed for their
species.
The first thing to
do is take your cat to the vet, who will be able to run tests
to determine if your cat has heartworms and if so, the severity
of the case. He can also
find out how the worms are affecting your cat and tell you any side effects that the treatment medicine may
impose.
Heartworms are a very serious condition, as the worms feed on vital areas around your cat’s heart.
Veterinarians are trained to deal with heartworms in
both cats and dogs. You should always
consult with your vet if you believe your pet has heartworms.
Treating your cat for heartworms may be extremely difficult. The dying worms
have side effects as well, causing serious problems in more than 1/3 of
the treated cats. Dying worms
can become lodged in the arteries of the heart, which are
already inflamed due to the worms being there.
When these lodged
worms die and start to decompose, the result can be very serious problems.
If your pet has a serious heartworm infestation, your vet may
recommend that the cat spend some time at the animal hospital to ensure
proper treatment.
Depending on the side affects and how the
medicine affects the cat, your cat may not be able to take
some of the heartworm treatment medications. To determine the best treatment
options for your cat, your vet will need to run some tests.
Your vet will be able to tell you
the best options available for treatment.
Prevention is the safest treatment you can provide. Be sure to
take your cat to your vet for regular checkups. The vet
can tell you what
heartworm prevention medication is best to use. This way, you
can prevent your kitty from getting heartworms – and the serious
side effects and life threatening issues that go along with
them.
|
