Cats with adult heartworms typically have just one to three worms, and many cats affected by heartworms have no adult worms. The cat is an atypical host for heartworms, and most worms in cats do not survive to the adult stage. Heartworm disease in cats is very different from heartworm disease in dogs. For this reason, prevention is by far the best option, and treatment-when needed-should be administered as early in the course of the disease as possible.Ĭats.
Heartworm disease causes lasting damage to the heart, lungs and arteries, and can affect the dog’s health and quality of life long after the parasites are gone. If untreated, their numbers can increase, and dogs have been known to harbor several hundred worms in their bodies. The dog is a natural host for heartworms, which means that heartworms that live inside the dog mature into adults, mate and produce offspring. Because wild species such as foxes and coyotes live in proximity to many urban areas, they are considered important carriers of the disease.ĭogs. Heartworm disease affects dogs, cats and ferrets, but heartworms also live in other mammal species, including wolves, coyotes, foxes, sea lions and-in rare instances-humans. It is caused by foot-long worms (heartworms) that live in the heart, lungs and associated blood vessels of affected pets, causing severe lung disease, heart failure and damage to other organs in the body. Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease in pets in the United States and many other parts of the world. Information about Heartworm Positive Dogs What is heartworm disease?
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