Pets are surrounded not only by the attention and love of the owners, but also by the right conditions for life. However, even the most ideal living conditions cannot guarantee complete safety. Worm infestation is the most common problem faced by many cat owners. What to do if a cat has worms, and is such a disease dangerous?
The kitten has worms: what to do?
The external environment is full of dangers. Parasites are one such unsafe environment that can provoke more difficult situations. Worms in cats can be conditionally divided into three types:
- Sucking trematodes;
- Round nematodes;
- Cestodes are tape.
Regardless of the type of worms, the parasites in the cat’s body feed on blood and tissues of internal organs. Failure to provide assistance threatens not only the deterioration of the pet’s condition, but also its death. During reproduction and development, worms not only feed on living cells of organs, but also produce harmful toxins, which in abundant quantities cause the most complex forms of intoxication, destabilize the work of internal organs (more often – liver, kidneys, heart and lungs). Dying parasites are also poisonous for the cat’s body. Therefore, it is important to know not only the type of worms, but also to know the methods of how to cure a cat of worms.
How does a cat become infected with helminths?
Making a safe and maximally protected environment for a pet is virtually impossible. Even during a short walk, your cat can become infected with harmful and dangerous worms. But don’t panic. It is enough to know what to give a cat from worms as a prophylaxis and main treatment. The most common routes of infection:
- External environment (sand, soil, grass, etc.);
- Infection from other cats that communicate with nature more often;
- Infection through food intake (half-raw, raw liver, raw eggs, milk, meat, fish);
- Eating soil from a flower pot (which cats often like to do at home).
It is interesting that if you protect the cat from any contact with the external environment, infection can occur even from the master’s boot, on which you can bring eggs of worms. It is important not to protect the cat from contact, but to provide his body with help, to provide strong immunity, which is able to cope with the dangers.
Symptoms of the manifestation of worms in cats
How do you know if a domestic cat has worms? What are the first signs of a dangerous disease? In order to know which pill to give the cat for worms, it is important to see the first symptoms of the disease:
- Slower growth in a kitten;
- The coat becomes dull, hard, in places it even “pimples”;
- Lack of appetite;
- Clouding of the color of the pupils, the manifestation of pigmentation on the white of the eye;
- Stool change (more often – liquid feces);
- Lachrymation (possibly conjunctivitis) of the eyes;
- Vomiting after eating, frequent regurgitation, belching;
- The animal is lethargic, does not show the previous activity;
- Impurities of blood in the feces;
- Itching in the anus (the cat constantly itches, licks and tears the fur);
- The cat is constantly asking for water.
These are the first signs that do not necessarily mean infection with helminths, but oblige you, as the owner of the animal, to seek additional advice from a veterinarian. After examination and research (blood, feces, ultrasound), the doctor will be able to establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe an effective treatment.
Helminths in cats: what drugs to treat?
Effective treatment of helminths is based on establishing an accurate diagnosis and types of parasites. In veterinary pharmacies there are drugs with a wide range of effects. However, it is important to coordinate the appointment with your veterinarian, since some tablets (suspensions for small kittens) can relieve the cat of worms, but entail more complex conditions: disruption of the kidneys, liver, and digestive system.
Popular drugs for the treatment of worms in cats:
- Febtal;
- Troncil K;
- Dirofen;
- Caniquantel;
- Pirantel.
How to cure worms in pregnant cats?
Pregnancy is a difficult but not long period in a cat’s life. Therefore. If you plan to breed offspring, in order to prevent it, it is recommended to give the expectant mother prophylactic drugs for worms. If a pregnant cat is already infected with helminths, it is important to consult a veterinarian. Some medications may have a negative effect on the proper development of the offspring. The veterinarian may prescribe Milbemax or Drontal… An important point is the determination of the dosage of the drug. It is important to read the instructions for use before using the antiparasitic drug.
Suspension or tablet?
The range of products against worms in cats today is quite wide. Therefore, the question often arises of which drug to give preference to: ready-made suspension, or tablets? It is worth remembering that an important point in the treatment of parasites is to determine the correct dosage. Many drugs are categorically contraindicated in kittens up to 2 months. Therefore, there are special suspensions that are either already diluted, or must be diluted with boiled chilled water. This option is more acceptable for small nursing kittens due to the simplicity of calculating the required dosage. After depressurization of the package, the drug is suitable for a maximum of 21 days (depending on the manufacturer). The tablets can be used for adults.
Can worms be transmitted from cat to person?
The fears of many owners are also associated with such fears as the possibility of infection with helminths from cat to person. It is also important to know what kind of helminths your cat has. Some are transmissible to humans, while others are harmless.
The most common helminths in animals and cats are hookworms. They breed in the digestive tract of cats, feeding on blood. They can be transmitted from cats to kittens, but they are harmless to humans.
Roundworms roundworms, on the contrary, love and can reproduce in both animals and cats. Also considered dangerous to humans:
- Filamentous worms;
- Ribbon (Dipylidium caninum);
- Echinococcus Echinococcus multiocularis.
Cats, whether they like to walk outside the house or not, can carry many dangerous diseases. Worms are frequent and uncomplicated diseases for those who monitor the health of their pet, and know how to treat worms in cats correctly
