Question: You are assessing an animal that was broughtacross the state. The animal has a cough, intolerance to exercise,difficult breathing (dyspnea), and the mucosa of the cat looksanoxic (lack of oxygen). The heart rate is 150, with the normalranging from 120-140 along with rapid breathing. An x ray wasconducted and the heart was enlarged, and also had an enlargedpulmonary artery. A blood sample was also obtained, however theonly thing that was elevated was the eosinophils and the basophils.You are suspecting a possible case of heart worm (HW) disease(dirofilaria imitis).
a. If this animal is affected by a parasite, what arethe physiological implications? (Be sure to mention four thingsfrom the physiological standpoint that can beaffected).
b. What is a good method of diagnosis in cats todetermine if heart worm disease is present?
c. What is a preventive measurement for heart wormdisease, mention the drug and the frequency ofadministration.
