Diabetes and heartworms

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MissysMom

Member Since 2014
Please help as I feel so lost, confused and sick to my stomach. I have an 8yr old Cat named Missy. she's my first furbaby and I love her with all my heart. When my vet called to tell me our baby was diagnosed with Diabetes I was already in tears, when he told me about the heart worms I couldn't ask questions because I was so chocked up. My Missy has lost so much weight, she's lost hair and is bald by her ears (by her head) on both sides. The price of insulin was more then we can afford every few months, but I was looking for something cheaper. My question is a read there is no cure for heart worms for cats, I've see that it's dangerous. I know vets like others like to make money. My husband thinks it's best to put her to sleep because she may continue to suffer because of the heart worms. Please any advice is appreciated as I cried all day at work. I just want whats best for our baby. I don't want her to suffer either.

sorry for the long post
 
22 views and no one has experienced this. I don't wish this on anyone. I'll keep researching as I find nothing on the web.
 
Even though there is not a drug that can be used in cats to treat the heart worms, from what I found online, it looks like it can be managed through prednisolone and feline asthma treatments. The goal is to keep the cat healthy enough to fight the worms naturally and out live them. They do have a shorter lifespan in cats than in dogs. I have never had any experience with heart worms, so hopefully there is someone on this list that can offer you more advice.

The feline diabetes is something we can help you with. It is a very manageable disease with a low carb/high protein diet, hometesting and insulin. For the diet, you want to feed either canned or raw food - no dry food. Dry food is high in carbs. There are a couple brands that are lower in carbs than most brands and you can use them while trying to transition your cat to canned food if needed. One we recommend is Evo Kitten food. For canned foods, many of us feed our cats either Fancy Feast or Friskies. The pate flavors are lower in carbs; try to avoid anything with gravy. You also do not need to feed your cat prescription food (even if your vet tries to sell otherwise) and most cats stop eating it anyway.

Hometesting means using a glucose meter to test a drop of your cat's blood before every shot of insulin. You can use either a pet or human glucose meter. Both work well. The advantage to a human meter is they less expensive to buy and use and the strips are available at most pharmacies. Pet meters are expensive to buy and use and the strips are mainly available through your vet's office. You will test a small drop of blood from your cat's ear. Don't worry, it sounds worse than it really is. Most cats are not even bothered by it. We can help you learn to test.

There are several insulins that work well in cats. Lantus and Levemir are human insulins. If your vet prescribes either one of these, ask for a prescription for the pens instead of a vial. With a vial, the insulin will become ineffective long before you will use all of it. The pens are packaged in smaller containers and there are 5 pens in a package. Because they are in smaller containers, you should be able to use almost every drop. One package of pens will give you enough insulin to last about 9 months or more, depending on your dose. Also on the Lantus and Levemir websites, the manufacturers usually have discount coupons for the pens. Prozinc and PZI are pet insulins and you will order these through your vet's office. All four are long acting insulins and cats respond well to them. You want to avoid short acting insulins such as Humulin, Novolin, Vetsulin and Caninsulin. They have steep drops in the blood glucose levels. With any insulin you want to "start low and go slow". This means starting at a low dose such as 1/2 to 1 unit twice a day. If an increase in dose is needed, it is determined by monitoring the current dose for at least one week before determining an increase is needed. If the dose needs to be increased, it is only increase by 1/2 unit. It does not seem like a lot of insulin, but it is amazing how much affect it can have on a cat's glucose levels. Too much insulin can cause hypoglycemia and that could be dangerous.

Start reading the info on this site. Ask any questions you may have. We are here to help you.
 
Hi Missy's Mom,

I don't have any experience or knowledge about heartworms but I didn't want to leave your post without any replies. I feel so sorry for Missy and my heart goes out to you. :cry:

I had a quick look online and found some links for you. They cover diagnosis and possible treatments for Missy. She does have youth on her side.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+2129&aid=742

http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pe...e/animal-health/heartworm-disease-in-cats/273

I'm sorry that I can't do anything else to help about the heartworms, but the people here will be able to help you a tremendous amount with Missy's diabetes.
 
They did a blood test. I am calling the vet today because when he called I was so chocked up and couldn't talk. As I couldn't stop crying. I've read that cats can get heart worms, but it's rare.
 
Just another article. This one from the American Heartworm Society. From what I see in this article, heartworms in cats is not necessarily a death sentence as it can be in dogs. It also includes a link for veterinary resources maybe you could pass that along to your vet. Information seems to be the only help we can offer.

https://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-ow ... orm-basics

Anita and Squeaker
 
What specifi blood test was done?

Cats. Heartworm infection in cats is harder to detect than in dogs, because cats are much less likely than dogs to have adult heartworms. The preferred method for screening cats includes the use of both an antigen and an antibody test (the “antibody” test detects exposure to heartworm larvae). Your veterinarian may also use x-rays or ultrasound to look for heartworm infection. Cats should be tested before being put on prevention and re-tested as the veterinarian deems appropriate to document continued exposure and risk. Because there is no approved treatment for heartworm infection in cats, prevention is critical.
From
https://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-ow ... orm-basics

Also:
There are two serologic tests available—antigen and antibody tests. Antigen tests detect the presence of an adult infection and have a similar sensitivity to canine tests. The specificity is very high. Antigen tests are highly specific and result in few false positives. Antibody tests, on the other hand, indicate that the cat has mounted an antibody response to a previous infection. A positive antibody test may indicate that the cat is currently infected with juvenile or adult worms, or may indicate a previous heartworm infection.
From:
https://www.idexx.com/smallanimal/educa ... eline.html

MissysMom said:
They did a blood test. I am calling the vet today because when he called I was so chocked up and couldn't talk. As I couldn't stop crying. I've read that cats can get heart worms, but it's rare.
Click to expand...
 
As rare as it is, it isn't rare when it happens to your cat :( I have a cat that had them, she isn't diabetic though. She would have episodes where it was difficult for her to breath, I am guessing it was when the heartworms would break apart and aggravate her lungs. We had to rush her to the emergency vet twice because of it. She would have to take a course of prednisone. There was another rx she was on, I will have to search for it because I can not remember. With yours being diabetic I'm not sure how a round of pred would affect her glucose numbers. We ended up getting a prescription for oxygen, as well, to administer to her at home if she had another episode. Well 2 years later and no more :) I don't think she even knows she had heartworms. Mind you, her x-ray shows significant lung damage which is irreversible. But like I said, she acts like she has no idea, is our most active cat.
Good luck with everything. It can all be treated with some effort.
 
In some cases, if you can get her in otherwise good health despite the heart worms, surgery to physically remove the worms may be attempted. It is risky and expensive.
 
I have experience with Both though not in the same kitty, Our 16yr old Sandy passed away in 2012. Charlie is a 10yr old F DSH who was recently (May this yr) diagnosed with Heartworms. She presented with Stomach issues and the heartworms were found on a subsequent test at her annual exam a week later. She is doing good now after 4mo of Prednisolone treatments. Luckily she hasnt had any symptomatic breathing issues. I will be getting her rechecked on the 30th of this month, US/XRay to be see if her infection is getting better. The only treatment besides the Pred and Asthma meds is preventative by use of Revolution monthly. Your kitty can live a good long time with the heartworms and diabetes with treatment. The down side of the Heartworms is that it can kill out of nowhere but it is generally quick from the research I've done and per my Veterinarian, and Heartworms are no reason to have your baby PTS. I wouldnt suggest having the heartworms surgically removed. The surgery, cost not counted, is dangerous, if the heartworm isnt completely removed (a piece breaks off which is a known complication of the surgery) it can cause a pulmonary embolus which is fatal.
 
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