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Northern Illinois Cat Clinic

295 Peterson Road

Libertyville, IL  60048

847-680-1770

Newsletter

The Secret is Out on Feline Heartworm Disease

New Studies Call for Prevention & Redefinition of Heartworm Disease in Cats

BATAVIA, Ill., March 1, 2007

One mosquito bite can infect a cat with heartworm, a potentially destructive and insidious disease, which reveals itself as H.A.R.D. (Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease). The American Heartworm Society (AHS) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) are teaming up to get this urgent message out to cat owners through the KNOW Heartworms campaign, including the Web site, www.knowheartworms.org.

The campaign outlines five myths, or misunderstandings, about feline heartworm disease: Dogs vs. Cats, Indoor vs. Outdoor Cats, It's a Heart Disease, Adult Heartworms vs. Larvae and Diagnosis. All of these issues are misunderstood to the detriment of cats' health.

Ashley Jones, a resident physician in Columbia, S.C., came home one day to find her one-and-a-half-year-old, indoor cat Harley lying motionless on the floor. After rushing her to the vet for examination, the doctors determined that Harley had died from heartworm disease.

"My husband and I felt helpless, and wished there was something we could have done to prevent [Harley's death]," Ashley said. "We now protect our other cat against heartworms and are proud to raise awareness so that other cat lovers do not have to experience such a tragic event."

According to Dr. Charles Thomas Nelson, president of the American Heartworm Society, both the veterinary community and the cat-owning public have a long way to go in developing awareness about the risks of feline heartworm disease. Studies indicate that less than 5 percent of U.S. households with cats regularly administer heartworm prevention. In contrast, 59 percent of dog-owning households regularly use a heartworm prevention product.

The dangers associated with heartworms are much more significant than previously thought. The AAFP wants everyone to be aware of the range of risks a cat can face and make sure the animal receives regular checkups.

Diagnosing heartworm can be difficult even for experts because symptoms are similar to those of feline asthma or allergic bronchitis.

13 Signs Associated with H.A.R.D. (Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease):

Anorexia

Fainting

Blindness

Lethargy

Collapse

Rapid Heart Rate

Convulsions

Sudden Death

Coughing

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Weight Loss

Difficulty Breathing

  
   

The American Heartworm Society maintains updated guidelines on its host site www.heartwormsociety.org with the latest research to help veterinarians more effectively educate pet owners and manage heartworm disease. The "Guidelines for the Diagnosis, Prevention and Management of Heartworm Infection in Cats" is updated on an ongoing basis. Highlights include revised information on the pathophysiology of feline heartworm disease, interpretation of serology test results and continued support of the recommendation for year-round prevention.

"This is a very preventable disease," says Nelson. "This education program and the updated guidelines are based upon the latest, ongoing research conducted around the world," he adds.

Most veterinarians recommend year-round heartworm prevention in dogs, even in seasonal areas. One reason for this is compliance – making sure the medicine has been given properly by the pet owner. Surveys show that probably only 75 percent of the doses that are prescribed are given. But, even if doses are accidentally skipped, by giving preventives year-round the retroactive efficacy is increased, and it's possible to actually stop some worms from developing into adults. Also, several of the monthly heartworm preventives have activity against some intestinal parasites, which infect 3 to 6 million people every year.

 

 

Text Box: Pet Loss Support    In addition to being unique creatures, cats are endearing, loyal, and affectionate companions who quickly become true family members.  The anguish we feel when a beloved kitty dies, or becomes seriously ill and forces us to consider the humane choice of euthanasia, can be excruciatingly painful.  At times like this, the emotional support and empathy of others can be deeply comforting.    If you are grieving the loss of your pet or know someone else who is, the Cornell Pet Loss Support Hotline is staffed by cat loving veterinary students who understand that sharing life with a pet is one of life’s greatest joys.    To talk to a volunteer call:  (607) 253-3932 between 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm (est), Tuesday through Thursday. From:  Feline Forum

What You Should Know About

Your Cat’s Shedding

The truth about cat shedding is that every cat lovers must accept it, because this is normal natural event in the cat’s life. Even the humans have periods of hair growth and shedding of hair. Shedding is how animals replenish their fur and keep it in good condition.

Cats in the wild generally shed their coats twice yearly, in the spring to lose the heavy winter undercoat and in fall in preparation for the "grow-in" of the next winters' undercoat. However, since we have domesticated cats and subjected them to air-conditioning in summer and artificial heat in winter, their systems have been confused enough to put them into a constant shedding state.

Cats shed in order to remove dead hair from their bodies. Dead hair can cause skin irritation and thus needs to be gone. If you do not remove it for them, they will release it on their own.

Hair shedding happens for different reasons, but basically it depends from the time your cat spends outdoor or whether your cat is purely an indoor cat. The shedding is largely influenced by daylight, and this is called “photoperiod”. The number of hours a cat is exposed to sunlight in a day (photoperiod) triggers the shedding process. In addition, shedding varies considerably with breed as well as husbandry practices (i.e. bathing, grooming, activities, etc.).

Indoor cats shed at any time of the year. The amount of shedding hair is less than the outdoor cats due to the artificial light inside the house, but it depends and from the control of the constant temperature in your home.

The outdoor cats shed in the spring and fall, when the days start to lengthen and sun spends more time out. You will not see much if any shedding of your outdoor cat during the winter months, because they naturally will hold on to all their fur to use as thermal protection from the cold conditions. 

Combing and brushing have so many advantages:

·         the more frequently you brush your cat and remove dead and loose hair from her bodies yourself, the less they will shed;

·         they will reduce the occurrence of hairballs, especially in the longer haired breeds;

·         keep cat's coat smooth and free from mats - little clumps of fur that sometimes form;

·         it is a wonderful form of interaction for both you and your cat, and can be a wonderful bonding occupation;

·         allow you to keep an eye on your cat's coat and skin for potential problems, such as parasites and skin conditions etc.

Other ways to reduce cat’s shedding is to keep your cat healthy and feed her a quality cat food. You should feed your cat with nutritionally complete and balanced cat food that has all the nutrients cat requires for healthy skin and hair coat. There are also some products on the market that can be applied to your cat’s hair coat to reduce daily shedding. There are vitamins derived from fish oils, available at pet shops and from veterinarians, which can also help. They provide omega-3 fatty acids that strengthen the coat.

If the heavy shedding is consistent throughout the year, the cats may have food sensitivity or a dust allergy.