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Heartworm
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My vet tech was talking about it today...she said they have to mention it and put it out there and give me the option, my other vet never said a word about it to me.
This is from www.thepetcenter.com which is a site with a wealth of vet-written articles about pet health.
"Common signs associated with a Feline Heartworm Disease include lung disease associated with respiratory stress (difficulty breathing or rapid shallow breathing), gagging or vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Some of the signs are difficult to distinguish from feline asthma."
It also say cases of heartworm in cats are only 5-20% of the number of cases of heartworm in dogs, and is harder to test for. It is probably not very likely that your cat would contract heartworm, and if it did, you would be taking him to the vet anyway. I like the vet saying they were obligated to inform you though, so at least you can make the decision.
We just had a big long informative meeting about some other illnesses at work today, and heartworm is now going to be included in the combo tests we use. So we'll be testing for it along with FIV. And the doc was saying that the vaccine for it is actually dangerous, and not recommended. But we almost never see cases of heartworm here in Oregon.
I have my babies on Revolution. It really depends on where you live because warm, moist or humid climates are breeding grounds for the mosquitoes that carry the larvae which cause heartworms. But to answer your question, I'd rather be safe than sorry and there is nothing inherently different in cats that makes them immune to heartworms. Also, since there is no treatment for cats who are infected the Revolution is peace of mind. Plus Revolution prevents fleas, hookworms, tapeworms and ear mites. Talking about bang for your buck! Good Luck!
Oh - and one more thing - just because your kitty lives indoors does not mean they can not contract heartworms. There was a study done nationwide and the percentages of numbers of infected cats was a little scary given the reported number that were indoor cats only. I would not let that make my decision. I would use other things like where you live to help me in making that decision. My original vet also acted like I had three heads when I asked about a heartworm test for cats, but actually this led me to do some research and I was much happier with the vet we use now who specializes in kitties.
We live in an area where there are lots of mosquitoes, so even if our cats were strictest of strict indoors, we would have them on a preventative. Even with bug screens on all the windows and doors, we still get mossies inside. Given that there is no useful treatment, I don't believe it's worth the risk.
One of mine is on it because he is heartworm positive, but i wouldn't give it to an all indoors cat. The chances of cats contracting and carrying heartworm are very small, they have to be bitten by several infected mosquitos. Geographic region is also important, the vets were SHOCKED that Sam contracted it in Baltimore, apparently its most common in warm, swampy places (ex. some Hurricane Katrina rescues tested positive.)
ooohhhh, ooohhh, sorry to be flippant....but we have never heard of heartworm before (we come from England)......my human person reckons it sounds like something that human people suffer from in the throes of love......
'Oh Rose thou art sick,
The invisible worm
That flies through the night
through the howling storm
has found out thy bed of crimson joy
and his dark, secret love does thy life destroy........
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