Although dogs are the more natural host for this disease, cats are also susceptible to heartworm infection. It is estimated by the American Heartworm Society that, in any given community, the incidence of heartworm infection in cats is approximately 5% to 15% percent that of dogs who are not on preventive medication. 22 мар. 2017 г.
How likely is an indoor cat to get heartworm?
Studies have shown that up to 15% of all cats in certain locations, regardless of whether they are indoor or outdoor cats, have been exposed to heartworms. 3. There Is No Good Treatment. There is simply no good treatment for heartworm-infected cats.
Are cats at risk for heartworm?
Cats can also get heartworms after being bitten by an infected mosquito, although they are not as susceptible to infection as dogs. A cat is not a natural host of heartworms because the worms do not thrive as well inside a cat's body. Both indoor and outdoor cats are at risk for heartworm disease.
What are the first signs of heartworms in cats?
The most common clinical signs of heartworm infection include: intermittent vomiting (sometimes of blood as well as of food); diarrhea; rapid and difficult breathing, coughing and gagging, all of which may be confused with feline asthma or some other bronchial disease; loss of appetite; lethargy and weight loss.
What percent of the cat population is infected with heartworms?
“At an estimated prevalence of 0.4%, hundreds of thousands of cats in the United States are likely infected with heartworms.” The investigators analyzed serologic test results collected from nearly 35,000 cats by veterinary clinics and animal shelters in all 50 states and 7 of 10 Canadian provinces.
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