{"id":115,"date":"2017-03-06T18:41:30","date_gmt":"2017-03-06T23:41:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.truecareveterinaryhospital.com\/blog\/?p=115"},"modified":"2017-03-06T18:41:30","modified_gmt":"2017-03-06T23:41:30","slug":"heartworm-in-cats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.truecareveterinaryhospital.com\/blog\/heartworm-in-cats\/","title":{"rendered":"Heartworms in Cats"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"There are so many things that we cannot protect our precious pets from, but when it comes to parasites such as heartworms in cats, we often have a real chance at preventing trouble. Most dog owners know about heartworms, but owners with feline family members aren\u2019t always as knowledgeable.<\/p>\n

Heartworm disease in cats is a real issue, and this parasite has worse implications for our kitty companions. True Care Veterinary Hospital<\/a> thinks it is important for our clients to understand the risks and implications of heartworms in cats.<\/p>\n

Understanding the Heartworm<\/h3>\n

The heartworms that infect dogs are the same as those that infect cats. These nasty little parasitic worms carry the scientific name Dirofilaria immitis and are transmitted by the mosquito. When an infected animal is bitten, the mosquito carries tiny baby heartworms, called microfilaria, in its digestive system until it bites another animal, infecting that victim with the parasite.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Once an animal is injected with microfilariae, these tiny heartworms enter the bloodstream and settle in the heart and large blood vessels in the lungs where they become adult worms. Over time, these large worms (up to six inches in length) can result in severe problems, including lung disease and heart failure.<\/p>\n

In most cases, symptoms are not present in the early stages of the disease. Over time, symptoms, some more serious than others, can emerge, such as:<\/p>\n