Heartworm disease is one of the more serious cat diseases that can affect your little pet. Fortunately, it can be prevented with a prescription for effective medication from your veterinarian.
Mosquitoes Cause the Spread of Heartworm Disease
A parasitic organism called dirofilaria immitis causes heartworm disease. It is a type of nematode or roundworm that lives inside an animal’s body. Mosquitoes are responsible for spreading this disease as they carry it from infected animals to other animals. When a mosquito bites into the skin of an infected animal, it picks up the diseased blood, which is then transferred into a new host, and infectious larvae develop within 10 to 14 days.
Adult female worms produce offspring called microfilaria that can travel through the animal’s bloodstream to all the major organs. Mature heartworms can live for up to three years in cats.
Read moreCat Diseases: What Heartworm is and How to Prevent It