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Experts warn that cats can be in danger of heartworm disease even after only one mosquito bite.
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Did you know that one mosquito bite can infect a cat with heartworm? The American Heartworm Society and the American Association of Feline Practitioners want all cat owners to know this fact and more about feline heartworm disease. To that end, the groups have formed the KNOW Heartworms campaign, designed to educate cat owners about the five most common misunderstandings about the disease.
The campaign categorizes the common myths about feline heartworm disease into these categories:
- Dogs vs. Cats
- Indoor vs. Outdoor Cats
- It’s a Heart Disease
- Adult Heartworms vs. Larvae
- Diagnosis
In addition, the campaign explains the common symptoms of H.A.R.D. (heartworm associated respiratory disease), the way heartworm most often reveals itself in cats. The 13 symptoms of H.A.R.D. include:
- Anorexia
- Blindness
- Collapse
- Convulsions
- Coughing
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty Breathing
- Fainting
- Lethargy
- Rapid Heart Rate
- Sudden Death
- Vomiting
- Weight Loss
For more information about feline heartworm disease and the KNOW Heartworms campaign, visit the campaign website.