Dirofilariasis in cats: symptoms, treatment at home

Different types of helminthiosis can infect even a pet that lives exclusively in the house and does not go out into the street. Parasitic invasion by worms belonging to the genus Dilofilaria, otherwise known as dirofilariasis, is not simply a threat to the health of the animal. This disease is extremely difficult to diagnose, which can not but affect the timeliness and result of treatment. How can there be dirofilariasis in cats (see photo below in the article)? How dangerous is this disease for a person or for other pets? How does it manifest and what causes dystrophilia in cats symptoms? Treatment at home how to properly carry out and what drugs can help a cat cope with the disease?

Dirofilariasis - what is it?

The parasite Dirofilarifsis derives its name from two Latin words: diro - evil or bad, and filum - a thread. Thin round worms deserve their name because of the length of up to 30 cm and heavy damage that can be caused to the body of the wearer. A number of diseases caused by the invasion of the feline's body by parasites of this genus is commonly called dirofilariasis in cats. What are these diseases? First of all, we are talking about poisoning with secreted toxins, as in the case of infection with other types of parasites. In addition, most of the adult worms die fairly quickly, and fragments of the parasite remaining in the body are capable of producing a blockage of the blood vessel. The result of this often becomes the death of the pet from the embolism.

No less dangerous is the influence of filarries and larvae of parasites, which cause regular small blood loss and interfere with the normal supply of organs with nutrients and oxygen, thinning and damaging the tissues of the body. Only timely diagnosis and proper medical intervention can defeat dirofilariasis in cats. Symptoms, treatment, and most importantly, the prevention of this disease - the necessary knowledge for each owner of a pet.

How does infection occur?

The larvae of the parasite are transported by bloodsucking insects, mosquitoes and much less often by fleas or ticks. Getting with blood in the stomach of the transporter, the larvae are thrown under the skin of a healthy individual bitten by an infected insect. In the next few months, the development of larvae of the diphilaria in the subcutaneous tissue to a state where they will be able to migrate through the blood vessels. Over a period of about 4 months, most of the larvae will die, but some of them, from two to six individuals, reach through the bloodstream of the respiratory system and settle in the lungs. In addition, individuals can parasitize in the nervous system, the abdominal cavity, in the eye area. Thus, the dirofilariasis in cats takes place in the first latent, that is, hidden, form. Actively growing and later multiplying worms at this stage will allocate a considerable amount of toxic substances that adversely affect the body of the carrier.

Behind the latent stage, dirofilariasis in cats flows into the most dangerous, acute form. At this stage, adult worms begin to die, causing a blockage of blood vessels. The result of this sooner or later becomes the death of the animal.

Who can be a carrier?

The most commonly diagnosed dirofilariasis in dogs and cats, but not only they are affected by the disease. The bearer can be a person or carnivores. Invasion in this case occurs in a similar way, through the bite of an infected insect.

Prevention

Are there measures that can reduce the likelihood of invasion or completely prevent dirofilariasis in cats? Prevention of the disease is the regular treatment of the pet with special insecticides for animals in the summer-autumn period. Especially it is necessary before walking near water bodies: parks, a holiday village and so on.

Symptoms: What are the signs of dirofilariasis?

What are the signs of suspected dirofilariasis in cats? Symptoms of invasion may differ slightly, depending on the organs in which the parasite is localized. At the first stage, if you get into the layer of subcutaneous tissue, you can observe the following signs of the disease:

• Redness of the skin surface.
• Appearance of pustular formations.
• Itching.

Later, with the development and maturation of larvae, in most cases there are symptoms such as blue or reddening of the mucous membranes, dull and fleecy hair, general weakness and apathy of the pet, a decrease in appetite.

However, all these signs appear most often when the invasion is already in the active stage. The main danger of the disease is the absence of visible symptoms at the initial stage. For this reason, veterinarians recommend that a survey be conducted for the presence of infestation at least once a year.

Cardiopulmonary diofilariasis

Parasitize in the heart of the animal, in its right half, worms-diphylaria can for years. With dirofilariasis in the circulatory and respiratory system, symptoms such as:

• Asthmatic signs: shortness of breath, cough. For this reason, the disease can be mistaken for asthma, it is possible to refute this diagnosis with further examination.
• Bound movements, slowness.
• Decreased body weight, causeless vomiting.

Dirofilariasis in the eyes

The organs of vision are a comfortable environment for dyphilia worms: parasites are equally readily localized in the mucous membrane, both in the eyelid and in the eyeball. The main danger of this type of invasion is that vision deteriorates significantly, and even after treatment, visual functions may not be restored. Infection of the eye can easily be recognized independently by external signs:

• Watery eyes, accompanied by reddening of the mucous membrane.
• Visible swelling of the eyelid.
• Noticeable protrusion of the infected area in the eye area. A small tubercle forms, which when pressed causes the animal to have painful sensations.

Examination and analysis for the diagnosis of dirofilariasis

Confirm dirofilariasis in cats can be done using such diagnostic methods as:

• X-ray examination. Most often it is appointed to monitor the condition of the pet, as well as to detect regression of the body's functions, to evaluate the development of the disease. The method does not possess 100% accuracy, however it allows to make a decision about the admissibility of medical or surgical intervention.
• Diagnostics serological. Test for the presence in the body of an antigen antigens of an adult specimen of a diplilaria. A negative result, obtained after one or two studies, also does not guarantee the absence of invasion. The maximum accuracy of the results depends on the availability of sexually mature worms.
• Echocardiography. This type of diagnostics is by far the most effective method for detecting dirofilariasis in cats and other carriers of the disease. The examination of the heart with the help of ultrasound makes it possible to determine the existing pathologies and to reveal the presence of roundworms in the cardiovascular system.

As a rule, in addition to the examination by a veterinarian, a general and complete analysis of blood and urine is assigned, which allows an accurate assessment of the changes in the host organism that occurred during the parasitizing of the diphilaria.

Treatment in a clinic

To combat the invasion of Dirofilarifsis, there are two methods, prescribed depending on the degree of development of the disease. Often, treatment is an injection. To date, used drugs "Tiacetarsamid" or "Melarsomin." Both substances are arsenic compounds, therefore it is not necessary to apply them independently for home treatment.

"Tiacetarsamid" contains a higher concentration of poison, in addition, always gives complications to the liver and kidneys of a fluffy patient. For this reason, the drug is prescribed only with full confidence in the presence of the disease. "Melarsomin" is no less effective, but it belongs to a new generation of medicines. The concentration of arsenic here is not so great as in its predecessor, "Tiacetarsamide," so the drug does not give serious consequences. But he also has a number of side effects, which is why arsenic-based drugs are prescribed if the benefits from them are greater than the negative consequences.

With sufficiently severe lesions of the respiratory organs, prednisolone or other corticosteroids may be prescribed. The whole course, from the beginning of admission to a gradual cancellation, is also appointed and controlled by a veterinarian.

As another method of treating dirofilariasis, a surgical operation to remove adult parasite specimens can be prescribed. This method is used in cases when the presence of adult diphilaria was detected by an X-ray examination, - the destruction of such parasites by medicinal methods can lead to a blockage of blood flow. In addition, it is surgical removal of the helminth - the only way to get rid of the parasite that lives in the eye area.

After surgery, the cat undergoes a period of recovery with observance of the rest regime and periodic treatment with adulthicides, which eliminate the remaining parasites.

In addition to the above methods of treatment, in addition, a number of procedures for maintenance therapy can be developed, allowing the animal to restore its health to the maximum. To such influences include a course of medicinal solutions for the expansion of bronchi, oxygen procedures and so on.

Home Treatment

The preparation "Stronghold" based on selamectin possesses excellent preventive and anthelmintic agents. Regular external application of the substance in the warm months, when it is possible to get a mosquito bite, reduces the number of larvae in the bloodstream of the animal. Absorbed through the skin, the active substances of the drug cause paralysis and, as a consequence, the death of the diphilaria.

Similar properties have well-proven drugs "Advocate" (active substance - moxidectin) and "Milbemax" (milbemycin oxime).

It should be noted that the effect of the above-mentioned funds is possible only at the initial stage of the invasion. Against sexually mature parasites the drug is useless.

In order for home treatment of dirofilariasis not to cause even greater harm to the pet, when providing self-help it is necessary to observe the following rules:

• Do not try to diagnose or prescribe a course of treatment yourself. The veterinarian should do this.
• When carrying out the course of treatment, the pet will need to ensure compliance with the regime recommended by the veterinarian.
• In the process of treatment requires regular monitoring of veterinary clinic specialists for the state of lung and bronchus, the cardiovascular system of the animal.