Every spring bring National Heartworm Awareness Month, a time to shine the spotlight on the often deadly parasite that plagues the pet world. Although people associate heartworms with dogs, cats are also at risk! Find out what you need to know to keep your cat safe.
When is National Heartworm Awareness Month?
National Heartworm Awareness Month is observed every year in April. This pet holiday was founded in Heartworm Symposium of 1974 and is the work of the American Heartworm Society.
Cats and Heartworms
Cat lovers need to know:
Heartworm is everywhere.
In a nationwide survey of more than 5,000 veterinary hospitals conducted by AHS, heartworm was confirmed in all 50 states.
Cats get heartworm disease, too.
Dogs are more susceptible than cats, but cats can become seriously ill from just a few worms. The bottom line: if you live in an area where heartworm disease in dogs is present, your cat should get preventive medication, too.
Treatment is not a “fallback.”
There is no effective medication for treating cats with heartworm disease.
Should you worry about heartworms in cooler weather?
As the weather starts to cool down, the mosquito population generally diminishes…but the American Heartworm Society (AHS) is reminding pet families that heartworm disease is still a threat.
“Heartworm is endemic in many parts of the United States, due to conditions that favor the proliferation of mosquitoes that carry the disease and the high reservoirs of animals carrying heartworm larvae,” says AHS president Wallace Graham, DVM.
Meanwhile, he adds, the mosquitoes that carry heartworm disease breed in standing water, and late-summer weather events such as hurricanes and heavy storms have left plenty of standing water in their wake.
More Cat Holidays
National Heartworm Awareness Month is just one of many health-related pet holidays featured here on CatTipper. You also might enjoy:
National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day
- Cat Adoption: FAQ You Might Have - June 28, 2024
- Protecting Birds with Birdsbesafe Cat Collars - April 24, 2024
- Are Eclipses Dangerous to Cats? - March 4, 2024