Pets
Q: Our cat just dropped over and died. What happened?My vet said heartworm disease that killed Sugar. How does he know that?How could this happen? —D. L., Orlando, FL
A: Perhaps, your veterinarian knew your cat had heartworm disease and didn’t communicate that to you, or perhaps you don’t recall him telling you about the problem. Dr. Lynn Buzhardt, board member of the American Heartworm Society, explains that often cats can survive with heartworm. But then, when the heartworm itself breaks up, sudden death may be caused from the inflammatory response that occurs, or a piece of the dead heartworm causing a blood clot.
By far, the most common cause of sudden death in cats is a heart condition called feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Unfortunately, even when diagnosed, there’s no effective medication for this condition. After my own cat, Ricky, succumbed to HCM in 2002, I began a fund to support research through the Winn Feline Foundation ( www.winnfelinehealth.org ). Buzhardt, of Zachary, La., explains that cats sometimes suddenly die if they ingest a toxic substance. Without an autopsy, it’s impossible to know for sure what killed your pet. Heartworm most certainly does occur in cat, most often where mosquitoes are prevalent since they transmit the disease. “If there is heartworm in dogs where you live, there’s heartworm in cats, too,” says Buzhardt. “Please don’t feel too guilty. You are among the majority (of owners— who don’t proactively use a heartworm preventative for cats. The preventatives do work, and this is an example of what can happen, which is why the American Heartworm Society suggests heartworm preventatives for cats as well as dogs.”
To learn more, check the American Heartworm Society Web site: www.heartwormsociety.org , or the Companion Animal Parasite Council site: www.petsandparasites.org .
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