Diagnostic Tests, Clinical Signs, and Treatment for Heartworms in Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets
Diagnostic Tests, Clinical Signs, and Treatment for Heartworms in Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets
Host | –-–----------------Diagnosis (Test Utility)--------------------- | Clinical Signs | Prevention | ------------Treatment------------ | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Microfilaria | Ag or Ab Test | Thoracic Radiographs | Echocardiography | Adults | Microfilariae | |||
Dog | **** | ***** (Ag) | *** MPA, PA, RHE, PTE, PIE | ** | Respiratory, weight loss, exercise intolerance, heart failure | Ivermectin, milbemycin, selamectin, moxidectin | Melarsomine, doxycycline, symptomatic treatment | Moxidectina, ivermectin + doxycycline, milbemycin |
Cat | * | ** (Ag) **** (Ab)# | ** PA, PIE | **** | Respiratory, vomiting, sudden death, heart failure | Ivermectin, milbemycin, selamectin, moxidectin | Symptomatic treatment;, doxycycline + ML, worm extraction | NA |
Ferret | * | *** (Ag) | * RH | *** | Heart failure, respiratory, sudden death, heart failure | Topical imidacloprid-moxidectin product labeled for cats and ferrets This product should be administered monthly at the recommended minimum dosage of imidacloprid (20 mg/kg), and moxidectin (2 mg/kg), by topical administration, regardless of indoor/outdoor status. | Symptomatic treatment (including corticosteroids) Possibly topical imidacloprid-moxidectin labeled for cats and ferrets | NA |
aImidacloprid-moxidectin is the only approved microfilaricide. * = rarely useful; ** = somewhat useful; *** = moderately useful; **** = often useful; ***** = excellent test; Ag = antigen; Ab = antibody; # = Ab-positive does not prove mature infection, only exposure/abbreviated infection; MPA = main pulmonary artery enlargement; PA = pulmonary artery enlargement; PTE = pulmonary thrombus/thromboembolus; PIE = pulmonary infiltrate with eosinophils; ML = macrocyclic lactone (macrolide); RH = right heart enlargement; NA = not applicable Adapted from McCall, JW. Clin Tech Small Anim Pract. 1998;13(2):112. | ||||||||