The FDA recently approved Imoxi Topical Solution for Cats, a topical drug for heartworm prevention. It combines the systemic insecticide imidacloprid and the anthelmintic moxidectin, just like Advantage Multi for Cats.
Cats with heartworm not showing severe clinical signs are usually monitored to see if the condition resolves spontaneously. Because feline heartworm infections are usually characterized by a small number of worms, cats infected with heartworms most commonly do not show signs of disease and are often monitored until the infection spontaneously resolves. In some cases, though, heartworm disease can cause affected cats to become very ill, so heartworm prevention is recommended for all cats.
Cases where there is evidence of disease in the lungs and blood vessels can be monitored with periodic chest X-rays. Supportive therapy with small, gradually decreasing doses of prednisone is recommended for cats with clinically confirmed evidence of lung disease. Cats with clear signs of heartworm disease may require supportive intravenous fluids, oxygen therapy, cardiovascular drugs, and antibiotics.
