One of my cats got feline heartworm. This was five years ago. My cat is on Revolution all year now. The cat was ill for weeks. Heartworm is more difficult and less successful to treat than in dogs. My vet called a bunch of universities and got some kind of experimental cocktail that he had a local pharmacist put together. My cat pulled through. He was ill nearly 3 months and then seriously underweight for a year (but still felt good) and on the thin side for the next 4 years. He eventually gained a normal amount of weight. Due to the heroic efforts of my vet and a good bit of money, he pulled through.
If you live in an area with lots of mosquitoes, you might want to seriously think abou this. --- On Thu, 4/9/09, Kerry MacKenzie <kerrymacken...@ymail.com> wrote: From: Kerry MacKenzie <kerrymacken...@ymail.com> Subject: [Felvtalk] Feline Heartworm? To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Date: Thursday, April 9, 2009, 12:41 PM Dear all, Just received this from my vet's clinic. My first instinct is nooooo, but I would welcome your thoughts on the necessity for "all-year-round Revolution"? Thanks! Kerry M. Feline Heartworm Update: Dear Pet Owner, April 2009 A new study from Auburn University has indicated that heartworm disease in cats is a far bigger issue than previously thought. Cats can get heartworm infection through the simple bite of an infected mosquito. Studies have shown: Indoor cats are just as susceptible to infection when mosquitoes enter our home. Once bitten, immature heartworms are transmitted and the heartworm lifecycle begins. The larval worms then start their journey through the body, ultimately affecting the heart, blood vessels and lungs. A cat's body is designed to respond and kill foreign invaders, including heartworm larvae before they develop into adults. As the cat's body responds, the intense inflammatory reaction causes severe damage to the lung tissue. This disease state is clinically recognized as Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease or H.A.R.D. Once this damage to the lung tissue occurs, it is not reversible and there is no treatment to remove the adult heartworms from a cat. With this new information we are now recommending ALL CATS be put on Revolution year round. Revolution is a broad spectrum parasiticide that in addition to preventing heartworm also prevents intestinal parasites, ear mites and fleas. Please contact us if you would like to discuss prevention for your cat. Sincerely, The Doctors and Staff at Roscoe Village Animal Hospital _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
