Worms In A Cat: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Drug Treatment

Table of contents:

Worms In A Cat: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Drug Treatment
Worms In A Cat: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Drug Treatment

Video: Worms In A Cat: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Drug Treatment

Video: Worms In A Cat: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Drug Treatment
Video: Check Cats for Worms 2024, March
Anonim

Worms in a cat. One of the most common diseases in cats is helminthiasis - infection of an animal with worms. Today, veterinarians have several types of helminths. When worms are found in cats, it is first of all important to correctly determine the type of parasite that has settled in the animal's body, which will allow the correct course of treatment to be prescribed.

Pulmonary worms in cats
Pulmonary worms in cats

Parasites that have penetrated into the body of an animal, which can be found almost everywhere: in grass, raw food, water, etc., pose a potential danger not only to the health of the cat, but also to its owner. Even if an adult cat or kitten is constantly in the house, this does not exclude their infection with helminth eggs, which can be brought in by dirty shoes, clothes or even unwashed hands.

Helminths, they are also worms, along with bacteria and viruses, have a huge negative impact on the health of the cat. If the eggs or larvae of parasitic worms enter the animal's body, the latter is not able to develop specific immunity against such an alien invasion and independently fight the disease.

Whereas when microbes enter the immune system, it reacts with the release of antibodies that can block the infection. In connection with this state of affairs, there is still no vaccine against helminthiases, although experiments in this direction are underway. Sometimes they are not unsuccessful.

The content of the article:

  • 1 Where do worms live in a cat's body
  • 2 Worms in cats, main types
  • 3 Varieties of worms in cats
  • 4 Symptoms of a cat worm infection
  • 5 Signs of infection of cats with worms
  • 6 Pulmonary worms in a cat (trematodosis)
  • 7 Medicines for worms for cats
  • 8 Worms in a cat - how to give medicine
  • 9 What harm do worms do to the body of cats
  • 10 Preventive measures against worms in cats

Where do worms live in a cat's body?

The signs of the disease when parasitized by one or another type of worms in cats is largely determined by the site of localization of the invasion. And there are a lot of these places in the body. Worms in a cat. Worms can settle and further destroy the balance of the living system in almost any organ. They can be found in: intestines; stomach; liver; lungs; kidneys; bladder; and even in the heart or eyes.

Mostly representatives of felines are affected by: intestinal parasites - roundworms (ascariasis, toxacorosis); hepatic - flukes (opisthorchiasis).

In rare cases, helminths can be located in organs and tissues of the host unusual for their biology, then they speak of "perverted localization". With this form of the disease, the parasitic worm for the most part cannot go through the full course of development, but the body still experiences some signs of discomfort.

In addition, the so-called transit localization is also distinguished, when the larvae or eggs pass through the cat's body without lingering anywhere and without exerting any negative effect on health.

Worms in cats, main types

Worms in a cat. Many novice cat lovers ask how worms look in cats. In fact, there are many types of parasites that infect animals. Some scholars claim about eighty.

Pulmonary worms in cats
Pulmonary worms in cats

But the cat has worms, the symptoms of which are most common. There are three main groups of worms - nematodes, cestodes and trematodes. They will be discussed here.

  • Cestodosis. Cats become infected with these worms while eating raw meat, mice, fish, fleas are their carriers. Diphyllobothriasis - the invasion is caused by a long, up to one and a half meter flatworm. Symptoms of worms in cats associated with this parasite are manifested in the form of weight loss, anemia, and sometimes vomiting of blood. Dipylidiosis is caused by a flatworm 20-30 centimeters long.

    Parasites attach to the intestinal wall, thereby destroying the mucous membrane. Animals lose weight, they develop diarrhea with mucus and blood. Failure to treat worms in cats can have serious consequences. Alveococcosis is caused by a small worm that lives in the small intestine. It is not very dangerous for the animal, but these worms in cats are transmitted to humans;

  • Nematodes. Toxocariasis is caused by small worms that live in the intestines and biliary tract. They are transmitted either through food or in utero. Signs of worms in a cat are manifested in the form of weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes anemia. If such worms start in cats, treatment, drugs must be used, because they often cause blockage of the biliary tract and intestinal obstruction. Ankylostomiasis is associated with a roundworm, about 2 mm long. It feeds on blood, if kittens have such worms, the signs will appear in the form of anemia;
  • Trematodes. Paragonimiasis or pulmonary worms. Infection occurs while eating raw fish and seafood. When these worms are present, the symptoms in cats may appear general - loss of appetite, fever, snoring during sleep, shortness of breath. In some cases, frothy vomiting and diarrhea are observed. Liver fluke is a worm that parasitizes the liver, infection also occurs when eating raw fish. Signs of worms in cats are expressed in severe pain syndrome (it does not allow touching the stomach), periods of gluttony alternate with a complete loss of appetite. Vomiting or diarrhea with bile may occur. Tablets for worms for cats in such cases must be given together with drugs to protect the liver.

Varieties of worms in cats

  • Pulmonary worms. Infection occurs from polluted water bodies, through water or crustaceans. The worm forms a cyst in the lungs, gradually destroying the organ;
  • wide tape. Dangerous for its large size up to 1.5 meters. In humans, it can reach 12 meters. Infection occurs from crustaceans, raw fish and river water;
  • hepatic fluke. Parasitizes exclusively in the tissues of the liver, gallbladder or pancreas. Infection occurs from raw fish;
Pulmonary worms in cats
Pulmonary worms in cats
  • cucumber tapeworm. Having sharp hooks, it bites into the intestinal walls and seriously damages them. Infection occurs from fleas and lice;
  • toxocars. They like to settle in the intestines. They pose a mortal danger to kittens. While actively developing in a weak kitten's body, they can rupture the small intestine. Infection occurs from food, in kittens sometimes during intrauterine development;
  • causative agents of alveococcosis. They are up to 5 mm in size, and do not pose a particular danger to the animal, however, it is deadly for humans (tumors of internal organs, metastases). Infection occurs due to eating rodents;
  • hookworms. In length, they grow no more than 1 cm. Parasitizing in the intestines, the worms feed on blood. Infection occurs through food (eggs) or skin (larvae).

Symptoms of a cat worm infection

Worms in a cat. At the initial stage of infection, animals do not experience unpleasant sensations. Later, with an increase in the number of parasites, this may be evidenced by the following symptoms: loss of appetite, rapid fatigue; disorder of the digestive tract; anemicity of visible mucous membranes; deterioration in the quality of wool; frequent or persistent itching around the anus; increased production of tears from the eyes.

Pulmonary worms in cats
Pulmonary worms in cats

In the most advanced cases, cats develop blood and mucus in the stool and muscle cramps. A large number of worms can cause miscarriage in a pregnant cat. If you suspect the presence of parasites in the body of your pet, you should immediately go to the veterinarian. At the clinic, you will be asked to donate the animal's feces for laboratory research. If eggs of worms are found in it, you must immediately start treatment.

Common symptoms of worms in cats:

  • the presence of fleas in a cat is a direct sign of the appearance of helminths;
  • since invasive parasites can live not only in the intestines, but also in the bronchi, muscles, liver, a number of symptoms can be observed, indicating the presence of helminths. Namely: general depletion of the body, dull hair, sluggish state of the pet, refusal to eat or, on the contrary, increased appetite, thirst, weight loss, vomiting in a cat and diarrhea (the presence of parasites can be seen in vomit or feces). Also, a small rash around the anus may indicate the presence of worms;
  • kittens have swollen stomachs, very pale mucous membranes (due to anemia), indigestion is replaced by constipation, bloody diarrhea.

Signs of infection of cats with worms

  • Tapeworms (cestodes): long and flat, can reach a length of 70 cm. The body of these worms consists of many segments, in each of which the larvae mature. When the larvae mature, they separate and go out together with feces, while the segmented body of the parasite grows continuously and on replacement of the separated segments with larvae, new ones appear. Cats become infected with this type of worms by eating raw meat and fish. Stray animals often become infected with cestodes when they eat rats or mice. Infection is also possible through carriers of larvae - fleas. Helminths parasitize the walls of a cat's small intestine. It is very common to see tapeworm segments around the anus of a sick animal - these segments resemble grains of rice or sesame seeds. Also, some parts of cestodes are found on the litter of the animal. In a more severe form of infestation with worms, parasites can be seen in vomit.

    Signs of tapeworm infection: changes in the pet's body weight (the weight either increases dramatically, or the cat, on the contrary, is rapidly losing weight); change in appetite (the cat is insatiable or, on the contrary, refuses food); large, "inflated" belly; hair loss; excessive licking in the anal area;

  • Roundworms: The most common types of worms in cats. There are a lot of them, but the most common in our pets are roundworms. By their appearance, the parasites resemble spaghetti, from which they get their name "round". Ascaris is usually 5 cm long, but there are also longer individuals. Kittens can become infected with roundworms through their mother's milk. The danger of infection lies in wait for an adult cat when eating rodents, raw meat and in contact with an infected animal.
Pulmonary worms in cats
Pulmonary worms in cats

Worms in a cat. Worms accumulate in the small intestine, injure the stomach lining, and can block the bile ducts and intestines. They can parasitize practically in all organs of the animal, exerting a strong toxic and allergic effect on the body. Signs of ascaris infection: weight loss; enlargement of the abdomen; vomiting; diarrhea; weakness;

nematodes: these are small, white, filamentous worms, up to 2 cm in length. The parasites feed on their host's blood by attaching themselves to the wall of the small intestine. They are less common in cats than other worms, but they pose a mortal danger to the health of the pet. Infection with nematodes can occur when a cat comes into contact with the feces of a sick animal, as well as when it comes into contact with particles of soil infected with worm larvae. Symptoms of nematode infestation: weight loss; diarrhea; anemia, rashes and wounds on the skin, especially on the paws - these are traces of the migration of worms; darkening to black color of the cat's feces, the presence of blood in the stool of the animal

Pulmonary worms in a cat (trematodosis)

Pulmonary worms in cats
Pulmonary worms in cats

In this group, the most common disease is considered to be opisthorchiasis, which is caused by the feline (Siberian) fluke. Cats become infected if they regularly eat fresh, raw carp fish. Parasites attach to the liver with suckers and damage it, penetrate the bile ducts and pancreatic ducts.

Cats get sick quite seriously with fever, vomiting with bile, sometimes there is a perversion of appetite, an icteric coloration of the mucous membranes appears. With pills alone, it is possible to do little, it is advisable to carry out complex therapeutic measures in a veterinary institution.

Worm medicines for cats

Worms in a cat. Before starting treatment, it is important to correctly identify the type of parasite. Preparations designed to combat hepatic worms are ineffective for the destruction of flat parasites and vice versa. Avoid broad spectrum drugs as they are highly toxic.

Toxic pills against worms cause the animal to vomit, diarrhea, feeling weak and lethargic. But modern anthelmintic drugs that are available in various forms - a tablet, suspension or drops are absolutely safe for pets while effectively destroying any kind of helminths.

Worms in cats, symptoms and treatment are possible after laboratory diagnostics. In severe cases of damage, worms can be found in the feces of an animal. The most effective drugs of a wide spectrum of action include: Drontal; Milbemax;

Dirofen; Azinox; Kaniquantel; Cestal Cat.

Pulmonary worms in cats
Pulmonary worms in cats

In addition to pills, there are drops on the withers from parasites. The medicine is applied directly to the withers, absorbed through the skin. Then it enters the bloodstream, having a paralytic effect on the parasites. These drugs include: Profender - destroys all types of intestinal parasites; Lawyer, Stronghold, Inspector - destroys only nematodes, and all fleas and ticks.

Dirofen plus in tablets has a lot of positive reviews from the owners of cats and dogs. It has a wide spectrum of antihelminthic action and is a combined drug. Main ingredients: febantel, praziquantel, pyrantel pamoat.

You can use kittens and puppies from 3 weeks. Pregnant females are prescribed an individual course of treatment with Dirofen.

Worms in a cat - how to give medicine

If the diagnosis is made and treatment with anthelmintics is prescribed, you need to carefully and correctly give the pet the drug. If we are talking about a small kitten, then it is better to purchase a suspension that the kitten can lap up. If the baby refuses to drink the suspension, you can use a syringe without a needle. Draw the solution into it and inject the contents of the syringe into the kitten's mouth.

Worms in a cat. If an adult refuses to take the medication, crush the tablet and mix it in a teaspoon of water. Place the cat with its back to you, open its mouth, pour the contents of the spoon between the jaws and squeeze them tightly. Lift the cat's head up and stroke the throat. Thus, you provoke the swallowing movement of the larynx.

To keep your pet healthy and feel great, carefully monitor the behavior of the animal. At the slightest sign of helminthiasis in a cat, take measures to remove them from the pet's body. Only a healthy animal can enjoy life, give its love and affection, daily delighting a caring owner.

Basic rules for using the medicine:

  • add powder from a crushed tablet to liquid feed;
  • holding the paws of the animal, unclench the jaws and put the pill in your mouth. Then you should pinch your jaws with your fingers, and stroke your throat to induce a swallowing reflex. After swallowing the tablet, release the jaw;
  • mix the powder from the crushed tablet with a little water. Pour the syringe into the pet's mouth. The syringe must be without a needle;

What harm do worms do to cats

Worms in a cat. Worms carry 2 destructive moments: mechanical, poisonous.

Worms render mechanical damage by means of their fixing devices (hooks, thorns, teeth), chitinous arms of the outer shell. During the migration of worms, there is a violation of the integrity of the organs where they are localized (intestinal walls, blood vessels, hepatic passages, etc.).

Blockages are a common companion of helminthiasis. A typical example of such a pathology is the obstruction of the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract with tangles of parasitic worms. During their life, helminths secrete secretions that cause intoxication of the cat's body. The negative toxic effect of metabolic products is manifested by lysis (decay) of nearby tissues and toxic changes in them.

Pulmonary worms in cats
Pulmonary worms in cats

Worms in a cat. The decomposition of the parasite as a result of its natural death or under the influence of drug therapy has no less effect on the process of general poisoning, as a result of which secondary or concomitant symptoms of invasion arise.

Helminthiasis largely determines the course of bacterial or viral infections, usually complicating the disease-causing process. Often, parasites are the impetus for the manifestation of a disease that is in a dormant state. The tissues injured by helminths become the "gateway" for the penetration of microbes into the cat's body and serve as the beginning of the development of the infectious process.

Preventive measures to combat worms in cats

Worms in a cat. Helminths most often affect street animals, but domestic cats are not immune from helminthiasis. To prevent the reproduction of worms and minimize the risk of invasion, you need to adhere to simple rules for caring for pets:

  • do not let the animal go for a walk down the street. This will avoid contact with sick relatives, mice, fleas and feces left by other animals;
  • shoes are best kept out of reach of cats. The mat near the front door must be kept clean at all times;
  • exclude raw fish and meat from the animal's diet, which very often contain helminth larvae;
  • be sure to wash your hands when coming from the street before stroking your pet;
  • check the animal's fur for fleas that are carriers of tapeworms;
  • cleaning the litter box frequently; do not neglect preventive deworming;
  • drugs for worms need to be bought only in specialized pharmacies. Anthelmintic preparations for kittens should be used only in accordance with the dosage recommended by the veterinarian.

Find out more:

  • Kitten Worms: Symptoms, Signs and Treatment
  • Worms in cats: symptoms, treatment, prevention

Recommended: