Recommendations for heartworm are specific to your cat family
When and how often cats should be tested for heartworm infection is a matter of debate. In making the decision on when to test, we consider how common heartworm disease is where your live, and what heartworm preventive care your cats currently receive. We also consider your pets’ environment and the mosquito season in Chicago.
Heartworm in Cats
Cats should be tested before they are started on a heartworm preventive. Experts do not agree on how often a cat that is taking a preventive should be tested, however, it would be based on risk of exposure and consistency of administering preventives. Our experienced veterinary team can weigh all the considerations for your pet, and help you decide what is best for your pet.
Control of Intestinal Parasites
Keeping your scheduled annual exam is a gift to your cat. As with vaccinations and heartworm testing, you’ll find different opinions on when or if fecal examinations should be performed. You’ll hear a wide variety of advice on when or if cats should receive regular deworming. Our recommendations are based on circumstances as follows.
- The age of your pet
- Likelihood your pets have been exposed to feces from other animals
- Evidence your pet suffers from fleas
- Whether your breed is a hunting breed
- The kind of preventive, if any your pet currently receives
- A history of infection
- Your breeding plans
- How your children interact with your pets
Considerations for Kittens
Because prenatal infections do not occur in kittens, initiate treatment at 3 weeks; repeat at 5, 7, and 9 weeks of age, and then put on a monthly heartworm preventive that also controls intestinal parasites. Using a year-round heartworm preventive/intestinal parasite combination product decreases the risk of parasites.
Managing Adult Cats
If on a year-round heartworm preventive/intestinal parasite combination product, have a fecal test performed 1-2 times per year and treat appropriately. If not on a year-round heartworm preventive/intestinal parasite combination product, have a fecal test performed 2-4 times per year and treat appropriately. Also monitor and eliminate parasites in pet’s environment.
Newly Acquired Cats and Kittens
Auburn Animal Hospital Family believes in deworming immediately, after 2 weeks, and then following the above recommendations. We recommend new pet owners obtain the history of deworming of their pets and contact us to determine if additional treatment is needed.
Roundworms and hookworms of your pet can cause serious disease in people, especially children who may not have good hygiene habits. Treating them for worms is important for your pet’s health as well as your family’s. Visit us to get detailed directions on how to manage the pets you love.
We strongly advise owners to make sure your pets have an annual fecal examination performed. Fecal examinations are advantageous. They reveal immediately whether your cat has intestinal parasites. If so, you may need to change their environment and access to other animals. You will also know what type of parasites are present. In that case, the proper medication will be selected to kill all of them at once.
A visit to Auburn will save you time, money and the stress of caring for your pet alone. With thanks to Pet Education.com