Heartgard can be given alone or mixed with food, and comes in two formulas, based upon the cat's body weight. Many veterinarians now agree that it makes sense to put all cats in a heartworm-endemic area on the preventive medication, which works by killing the heartworm larvae. It does not kill adult heartworms already in cats, but will keep cats from becoming reinfected. Killing the adult heartworms already in cats does not appear to be the best solution, as when a worm dies and begins to deteriorate, small pieces of it can clog the arteries and cause the death of the cat. Also, when a worm is inside a cat, it secretes a substance that prevents the cat's own immune system from reacting negatively to it.
Surgery is a last resort and is full of dangers in a feline heartworm patient.
If there is no other option in a cat with multiple worms and no way to survive on its own, surgery may be done. If even a tiny piece of the worm is left in the patient, it can cause a pulmonary embolism and sudden death. There is a much greater sense of hope, relief and optimism among the veterinary community and cat owners today regarding controlling feline heartworm disease, with the effective heartworm preventive now readily available on the market. All Rights Reserved.