The American Heartworm Society (AHS) recently released the 2007 Guidelines for the Diagnosis, Prevention and Management of Heartworm Infection in Cats, paying specific attention on the newly defined heartworm associated respiratory disease.
“Each year cats die needlessly from complications related to this very preventable disease,” says Tom Nelson, a veterinarian and president of the AHS. “These new guidelines clearly indicate more than ever the need for veterinarians to encourage cat owners to comply with prevention for the health of their cat.”
Some cats never exhibit clinical signs, but even a small number of worms can be life-threatening, according to AHS. When signs are evident, they usually develop either in the first stage when the heartworms enter a blood vessel and are carried to the pulmonary arteries, or in the second stage when the heartworms die.
**For the full article, pick up the May 2007 issue of CAT FANCY.**
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