Symptoms of Heart Worms in Cats
According to the "Cornell University Book of Cats," felines do not make good hosts for the larval stage of heart worms (usually spelled "heartworms"), so they often leave the bloodstream before their life cycle is completed. Because the disease is less common in cats, no specific feline medicine exists to prevent or treat it, and canine medication can have side effects. Instead, avoiding mosquito bites to prevent the chance of infection is emphasized.
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Rapid Breathing
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Dead worms in the bloodstream are carried to the lungs where they interfere with the intake of oxygen, causing the cat to breathe more rapidly. This is both a symptom of the disease and a risk involved when treating the cat with medication that kills the worms.
Coughing
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When the dead worms enter the lungs, it can cause coughing in addition to or instead of the rapid breathing.
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Sudden Death
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Heart worms invading the heart lead to thickening of the heart muscle walls and obstruction of blood vessels. If they obstruct the lungs so severely that blood cannot get through, this will lead to immediate death.
Fatigue, Vomiting and Weight Loss
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A cat with a coronary condition may appear more tired than normal, and sleep more. Changes in eating are a possible sign of heart worms, but also an indication that the cat is not feeling well in general. This should be reported to a vet as soon as possible.
No Symptoms
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According to the "Cornell University Book of Cats," most cats show no symptoms of heart worm disease; it is only discovered during a necropsy after the cat dies from another cause. Because the larvae don't stay in the cat's blood for long, tests on cats with heart worms can come back negative (see Resources).
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Resources
- Photo Credit Catherine Chant
