Caused by Dirofilara immitis, heartworms are a potentially fatal parasitic worm living in the pulmonary arteries, lungs & hearts of cats. Heartworms are nematodes, a type of roundworm, they are several inches long, thin & white.

Heartworms are a common parasite in dogs, although cats do become infected & may develop disease. While cats are more resistant to heartworm infestations than dogs, cats in particular are extremely vulnerable to heartworm & even a small number can lead to death.

The disease is spread from mosquito to animals when the mosquito feeds from it's host. This is known as vector borne.

There are several products on the market which can be used to prevent heartworm. These are administered monthly. It is recommended that your veterinarian perform the necessary testing for heartworm infection prior to using these products. Heartgard®, Advantage Multi for Cats TM & Interceptor®.