Heartguard for indoor cats?

During Dori's vet visit yesterday, they suggested I put her on Heartguard for cats. I explained Dori is strictly indoors and therefore probably was ok, or so I thought. She explained that they have been researching and new evidence has found that inside cats also need protection from heartworms. The "situation" she used to explain why is this: A mosquito gets inside the front door when I come home, bites Dori, she gets heartworms. I believe she said that cats who have heart worms can get emphysema and asthma. I might have that wrong But anyway my question is, does she really need to be on Heartguard? I saw a poster on the wall for it and it seems like they were really pushing it for indoor cats. But was it just to sell the product? They take 1 pill every month and it costs $25 for a 6 month supply. It was not the $$ I was worried about but I don't want to give Dori any medicine that's not necessary. I may be a little paranoid but we had a big scare with Hartz Care and since that incident I have not given her any type or flea, mosquito, or tick prevention. She has never had any bugs of any type on her so I think she is ok right now... This stuff is all new to me as Dori is my first cat, I want to take good care of her so any advice would be wonderful

Indoor cats do get fleas! Esp if you live in an apartment that allows pets! When I lived in my last apartment, the lady downstairs had an indoor/outdoor cat. Every summer my RB baby used to suffer horribly since she was allergic to fleas. I used to sit her in my lap and pull them off with a tweezer. That was the only time she was actually patient with her grooming.

Whenever Rosie goes for her yearly shot i always give her a dose of flea solution when we get back as there are a few animals in the waiting room.

Heartworms in cats infect not the heart but the lungs.

There is no procedure to effectively kill the heartworms in an infected cat.

The risk is there, however, mosquitos don't typically travel that far in their life span, and to infect your animal, the mosquito would first have to bite an afflited host and then bite your cat.

I would heavily discuss the risk of this happening [being that you have an indoor only kitty] with your vet, consider the risks that heartguard plays to your cat vs the risk of a mosquito.

Spotz

I work in a vet clinic, and the only cases of feline heartworm I have seen have been on indoor only cats, curiously enough. Yes, they are as much at risk as outdoor cats, believe it or not. They can recover from it, if it is caught early enough, but it is a long, painful ordeal for the cat.

I treat my cat with revolution year-round, instead of heartgard. They both work well on heartworm, but my cat really didn't take to the heartgard chews, so it is easier to just apply a liquid.

Aqua

Oh, and by the way, don't worry about having the kind of reaction your cat had with Hartz. Heartgard has a much better reputation, and I don't know of ANY vet in my town who would recommend Hartz, but almost all carry Heartgard. They are two totally different medicines that work in different ways.

Aqua

squirtle -

I'm so glad you started this post, I was going to post the same thing today.

I recently took Candy in for her yearly exam and vacs, and asked my vet if I should put her on heartworm meds. She said she thought it would be a good idea, that they sell it there. I wanted to see if it was cheaper online, but they don't sell them without a prescription. I called my vet, left message with receptionist. Receptionist (not vet) called me back and said no, she couldn't give me a prescription as they don't sell Heartgard there, and that it wasn't really necessary here in PA. Receptionist told me my cat needs a blood test first, I told her I only wanted Heartgard since it was a preventive measure, and that my cat was recently seen there.

I think I would need a prescription for Revolution too and get it cheaper online, since I have to order other things for Candy also. She probably wouldn't do it, so I'd have to buy it thru the vets. Maybe time to get another vet.

Instead of getting Revolution, would Frontline Plus be just as good?

Jill and Candy

I'm originally from Pennsylvania, and there the vets always recommended Heartguard (in those days daily pills from March to October) for dogs, but not for cats, as they seemed a bit less susceptible. Our next-door neighbor didn't want to put the money out, but ended up spending far more on treatment after his beagle became infected, and the dog was never entirely healthy afterwards. My family has moved to the Midwest since then, and as heartworm is prevalent in both dogs and cats in the Mississippi Valley, all the pets, including the indoor cats, get Heartguard. Two years ago, one dog had an adverse reaction to the "seasonal shot", so she, like the others, are getting a monthly "Heartguard chew". I believe there are also ones you can give every three months. If I were you, I'd do a little bit of research about what the risk is in your particular area. If you live in a high-risk area, I'd go with the Heartguard, because mosquitos do manage to get inside all the time. I was rather shocked when my sister told me about all the cases of heartworm in her little town.

Jill, sounds like your as confused as I am I am still not quite sure what to do.

I think I am going to get the Heartguard. After reading about all the risks associated with heart worms I do not want to take the chance. I am very cautious about giving it to her though because of so many factors. The vet was heavily trying to push it but it seemed more to me to push sales, not so much for Dori's health. (I just had a weird feeling), then there was the Hartz incident, I don't even want to begin to think about that And I don't want to just be popping pills in her that she doesn't really need.

So I think that Dori (my inside only kitty) needs :
Heartguard for heartworms and Advantage for fleas and ticks? Is there anything that is safe to give her that will take care of heartworms, fleas, and ticks?

I found this for Florida:
More Facts About Heartworm
On October 10, 1999 the Ft. Myers, Florida News Press, published an article by Matt Whitehead about Heartworm and its increase in Lee County, Florida. The News Press has given permission to quote portions of this article.

While the article is written for the residents of Lee County, there are several points that apply nationwide, especially in areas that have experienced more than normal rainfall.

"Officials (in Lee County) attribute the increase (in heartworm cases) to the rainy weather that helps attract the mosquitoes that carry the disease. They also blame the pet owners who don't keep their animals on heartworm preventative medicine."

As we mentioned in our earlier article (see Protect Your Dog from Heartworm, the disease is spread by mosquito bites. "...more than 70 of the nearly 3,000 known species of mosquitoes worldwide have been identified as capable of carrying the disease." "While heartworm cases have been reported in cats and humans, the disease mostly is found in dogs, said veterinarian Sue Hurst of Kindness Animals Hospital in Cape Coral (Florida)"

A contributing factor to the spread of this mosquito-borne disease is an increase in rain that provides the wet ground for mosquito nesting, but vets also blame the owners.

"Many veterinarians advise pet owners to have dogs and cats started on one of four heartworm medications available when the animal is between 6 to 8 weeks old." "The people and vets who push for the monthly medicine don't have to worry about it. Those who don't have their pets take the medicine will face problems."

If the dog become infected, the infections can be detected "...with a blood sample drawn from the dog. They (vets) chose between two medicines that are similar to arsenic, Capasolate and Immiticide, to kill adult heartworms." "The medicine is given in two injections 24 hours apart. One dog in 20 is expected to die from the therapy." "Costs of the injections, including follow-up liver tests and x-ray exams, could run between $150 to $400, depending on the size of the dog."

The best cure for heartworm is to prevent the animal from becoming infected. "Today, heartworms are almost completely preventable, said Veterinarian Wayne Mogavero with the Tails-A-Waggin Animal Hospital in south Ft. Myers" "The bottom line is, there is no epidemic among animals that get medicine. The only animals that get heartworms are those that do no get the proper treatment and medicine."

"PRODUCT COST USE DETAILS
Heartguard $26 for 6 month supply Monthly Can be given to cats and dogs
Intercepton $28 for 6 month supply Monthly Only for dogs
Sentinel $55 for 6 month supply Monthly For dogs; also a flea program
Filaribits $10-25 for 100 tablets Daily Only for dogs
"

Our Golden Retrievers are on Heartguard which is sold in quantities dependent on the size of the dog. If you are buying Heartguard for your cat MAKE SURE to read the label -- it MUST SAY it is usable for cats!

I didn't find anything specific for Jackonsville, but you might want to check out the links here: http://sucheaol.aol.de/suche/search....wo=1&x=20&y=11

jcat -

Thank you for that article. I live in the Poconos, in a heavily wooded area, and have bears, deer, turkey, squirrels, and it seems every bug known to man, and then some. Last summer it just rained and rained, and the water stayed on the ground in the low areas, it had no where to drain. The dam also broke and this water just added on to what was already there. (Dam is still not fixed) Needless to say, it was, and still is, a breeding ground for mosquitos and other things.

I didn't realize for a long time that cats needed heartworm meds, I thought only dogs needed it, and especially not indoor cats. That's why I asked my vet about it. I decided to get it for my cat. I don't want to give her anything that she doesn't need but I think it's best that she have it.

squirtle -

I am incredibly frustrated and confused and don't understand why my vet is being such a so and so, can't say the word here. Like you, I don't want to give Candy anything she doesn't need, but, like you again, I feel it's the best thing to do. Last summer, the crickets were out full force. When I come and go from my house, I open and close the door really fast, but bugs get in anyway. Last summer, a big cricket followed me in, I didn't see it. Candy was having a grand old time chasing it, with me behind her with a broom. Candy finally cornered it (those things can fly!!!) I guess it was kinda funny, but it freaked me out. And I know mosquitos get into the house too, I hear them and have been bitten. And I don't know if I also need Frontline either.

Jill and Candy

Jcat-
Thank you very much for your article. It was very helpful.

Jill-
I am going to call my vet today and talk to the Dr. that Dori normally sees and find out what he thinks. He is a great doctor and really cares about the animals so I trust his advice 100%. The lady that Dori saw that I felt was trying to push the medicine was not her normal vet. I had never seen her before but Dori was really sick and so she had to see who was there. I didn't think much about it because I didn't know the risks to indoor cats. I will let you know what I find out.

Hey squirtle -

I'll probably get Revolution for Candy, it's topical; I don't think she would eat the Heartgard. A 6-month supply is $49.50 online and needs a prescription. I started reading about heartworm disease, check out www.placervillevet.com/heartworm.htm. Short but to the point. Will do some more reading. Good luck with you, if you have any info, I'd love to hear it and what your vet said.

Jill and Candy

my kitty was on revolution and her liver values went off the charts....we took her off and the next month had her retested and they went back to normal....she has been on nothing at since 7 months of age,,,,but contemplating something different,,,,any organic things out there,,,,,or should i try heartguard  thanks

poppyisthebest said:

 
my kitty was on revolution and her liver values went off the charts....we took her off and the next month had her retested and they went back to normal....she has been on nothing at since 7 months of age,,,,but contemplating something different,,,,any organic things out there,,,,,or should i try heartguard  thanks

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I'm glad this thread was bumped.  I have indoor-only kitties, and screens on all of the windows, but of course the occasional mosquito could find its way in when the door is opened.  Here is an alternative to the poisonous heartworm meds prescribed by vets.  I'd far rather give my babies a natural treatment.  That said, this doesn't chemically kill heartworm larvae, but prevents the cat from being bitten by a mosquito.  The reviews convinced me that it's worth a try.   http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/Only-Natural-Pet-HW-Protect-Herbal-Formula/999068.aspx  

Squirtle, Can you update us on what your vet said about the safety of heartguard for indoor only cats?  Mine just recommended it as well, but I don't want to give mine anything that could be bad for their organs or anything like that.