Is Your Cat Infected With Lungworm?

Lungworm infestations are common in any countries where 10 to 20 percent of the cat population is infected; this is especially true of rural areas. Lungworms in cats tend not to be a major cause of respiratory problems, however when the cat has a chronic respiratory problem lungworms may well be the cause.

Lungworms are amazingly easy for the domestic cat to get infested with, as they use the common garden slugs and sails as hosts until they reach a suitable animal. Normally, lungworms will end up in a cats system by it eating something that was a host to it. This could be the slug or snail itself, although cats tend not to eat these as they don't taste very nice, or more probably from a bird that has consumed a slug or snail previously hosting lungworm.

Lungworms can be up to 10mm long and they look just like hairs. Lungworms will develop in the tissue of the cats lungs after it has consumed a host or an animal that has eaten a host (such as a bird).

Most cats will not show any signs that they have lungworm, but if they do show any symptoms at all it will normally be a persistent cough. To positively diagnose the presence of lungworm the vet will have to find the coiled shaped microscopic lungworm larvae which are excreted in the cat's faeces. Normally cases of lungworm in cats will clear up by themselves in a few months, if they are left alone. But severe lungworm infestations need to be treated by a vet, as this will normally not get any better if left untreated.

The most common type of lungworm found is Aelurostrongylus, which is very wide spread. However, there are other forms of lungworm too, such as Capillaria aerophilia which also looks like a hair but the symptoms are just a occasional wheeze and a cough, this strain is most common in Australia. The strain known as Paragonimus kellicotti can sometimes be found in cats from North America who have caught it from eating larvae carrying crayfish or crabs.

Mild cases of lungworm in cats are nothing to worry about and will clear naturally, however if you are unsure it is best to consult your vet, as the underlying problem could be something worse.

Written by Laura Marsh. Did you find the information on cat health useful?

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