Whether you own a Birman cat or another breed feline, it’s important that you schedule annual wellness exams for your cat that includes a test for heartworm disease. Heartworm disease is a serious disease that can be fatal if not treated properly. The disease itself is caused by a foot-long worm or heartworm that can invade the heart, lungs, and blood vessels of your cat. Unlike dogs, your Birman may only have one to three worms present in her body. If cats do have heartworms they are most likely to have no adult worms. However, the worms can still cause damage to your cat’s health by causing heartworm associated respiratory disease also known as HARD. Medication used to treat heartworms in dogs is not effective in cats. Because of this, prevention is the only method of protecting your Birman and keeping her healthy. Talk to your vet Brampton, ON about heartworm testing, prevention, and treatment.