We have always had a dog and given him monthly Heartguard Medicine. We now have a cat, that is mostly outdoors but inside 1/3 of the time as well. Does anyone know if we need to give him monhtly Heartguard stuff as well or does it not affect cats like it does dogs?
It used to be a dog only thing but now it is becoming more and more a cat thing. From http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/5150/heartworm.htm; Treatment is difficult and dangerous. The mortality rate for treatment of heartworm in cats is as high as 50%, by some estimates. There is no approved medication to kill feline heartworms. Part of the risk comes from use of the arsenic-containing medication, thiacetarsamide, which has many side effects. The other danger stems from the breakdown products of the worms, which can trigger the formation of fatal blood clots. So preventative is a good thing. You can use Ivemectrin.
Feline Heartgard Yes, heartworms effects cats. In what veterinarians previously thought of cats having asthma is what they've come to discover the cats were actually suffering from was heartworm disease. And if and adult worm dies and migrates either to the lungs or heart, it is fatal. In cats, it only takes ONE adult heartworm to do this. It doesn't matter if your cat is indoors or outdoors because a mosquito doesn't have a preference where it decides to bite your cat.
*NOTE I AM NOT A VET* Mattie's deaf and is outside EVERY SINGLE TIME we are outside. I MEAN EVERY TIME THE DOOR OPENS!!! She's a freak! She has NEVER had heartguard - well the last time I took her to the vet was when we got Hunter when we lived in Wilmington. LONG time ago!!!! At least 7 years. I just can't see putting something in your body or on your pet that's NOT necessary, there are *other* methods. More natrual ways. I'm weird about that stuff though. I personally DONT go to the DR because there *might* be something wrong and I'd rather put it out of my head and continue with my life. Same with Mattie and DH. (they are almost on the same level) :lol: (((rant off)))
