Feline Heartworm Questions

I have a three-month-old Sphynx kitten who was recently tested for heartworms. His results came back as follows: His antibody came back positive and his antigen came back negative. I was told the medication Revolution could hurt him or even cause death. Is there anything else I can use to help with heartworms? We also had x-rays taken and the vets found fluid in his left lung.

I also have another Sphynx that is one year old and both of my cats are suffering from upper respiratory infections. They both have yellow mucus coming out of their eyes and their noses are wet. My vet has them both on Zithromax. Could this be pneumonia and is that fatal? Is there anything I could do naturally for them?

Thanks for your time,

Aimee

Expert Reply

Hi Aimee,

Let me begin by addressing the respiratory infections. These infections can lead to pneumonia if left unattended. The fact that your vet found fluid in your male cat's lung makes me wonder if he is progressing into pneumonia already. Keep administering the Zithromax as your vet prescribed and take him for a checkup if he begins to go further down hill.

For now, be sure to keep both cats warm and out of drafts. You also need to make sure they continue to eat well so they have the strength to fight off the infection. I don't know what you currently feed, but most cats find a high quality canned food more appealing than dry.

Now for the heartworm issue.

Currently, there is no veterinary approved heartworm treatment for cats. The good news is that, unlike dogs, cats have been known to spontaneously fight off these parasites. The fact that your male cat's antibody testing came back positive may only mean that he's been exposed to the heartworm larvae and has produced antibodies against it.

Now, a negative antigen test could mean that there are no adult female heartworms present in his system, but an antigen test isn't very effective at finding immature heartworms and males, and yes, it is possible to have a heartworm infection with only one sex present. The good news is that if there are only males present, the infection is going to die out on its own.

Since your cat is only three months old and it generally takes about eight months for female feline heartworm larvae to mature and begin reproducing, your vet is likely taking a "wait and see approach", which honestly is what most vets would do at this point. However, your vet should want to see your kitten again for a follow up chest x-ray within the next six months. This will either confirm or rule out the presence of mature heartworms.

To sum it all up, stay the course with the medication your vet has prescribed and schedule a follow up visit to make sure both cats' lungs are clear once the medication runs out. Your vet may prescribe a second round, or switch to a stronger medicine if the first one hasn't been completely effective.

Your male will also need to be seen again within the next six months to confirm whether he has developed full blown heartworms, or has simply fought off a potential infestation, and yes, it can happen so don't lose hope. Let us know how things turn out.

Thanks for your questions,

Kelly