Roundworms in cats: symptoms and treatment

Diagnostic and treatment methods

To increase the chances of detecting eggs, a contrasting color of the sample being studied is sometimes used. Usually the “evidence” is numerous, but in some cases it is necessary to take several samples in order to increase the accuracy of the diagnosis. But, let us repeat once again, with more or less pronounced invasion there is no need to resort to such “tricks”.

If you do not delay treatment, the prognosis is favorable (with the exception of some cases). In neglected situations, kittens often die from exhaustion and intoxication. How can you prevent your cat from getting roundworms? Prevention should include the following measures:

It has been clinically proven that roundworms in cats and dogs cannot cause helminthic infestation in humans.

Dog or cat roundworm eggs will not be able to develop in the human body, even if they are purposefully “planted” there. This is due to the fact that human roundworm develops in the intestines at a temperature of 36.6 degrees, and roundworms of cats and dogs develop at a temperature of 38.5 - 39 degrees.

A person can become infected with other worms from animals, so pets need to undergo a full course of deworming once every 3 months, and if a helminthic infestation is diagnosed, they need adequate treatment.

Ways of infection of pets

Even if your pets are constantly at home, the possibility of ascariasis in cats cannot be ruled out. An animal may “just for a second” jump out onto the landing, or may sniff and lick your outdoor shoes, which almost always contain worm eggs.

Puppies and kittens can ingest eggs in their mother's milk or become infected in utero from a sick mother. Before mating, animals must undergo anthelmintic treatment.

Treatment must be carried out in several stages to kill adults and larvae.

Symptoms of the disease

Signs of ascariasis in cats:

• Digestive disorders, vomiting, diarrhea;
• Pneumonia;
• The animal practically does not gain weight, the cats look thin and emaciated;
• Pale nose, tongue, sour eyes, tousled dull fur;
• Itching of the anus.

In dogs, the main signs of ascariasis are:

• Insatiable appetite. Despite regular, adequate feeding, the animal greedily “swallows” food;
• Intestinal disorders, diarrhea, constipation, sometimes vomiting;
• The abdomen is unnaturally distended with gases;
• The coat is dull, “lifeless”;
• The breath has a sweetish odor;
• Coughing, the animal makes sounds as if clearing its throat.

How dangerous is ascariasis for pets?

Ascariasis in cats and dogs causes severe consequences in animals:

It is impossible to make a diagnosis on your own; if ascariasis is suspected, it is necessary to undergo examination and appropriate treatment.

We are responsible for those whom we take into our home. While living with us, animals should receive our love and adequate treatment when necessary.

Treatment: list of drugs

In any pet store you can choose tablets or other medications based on the weight and age of your pet. Ascariasis can be treated at home without going to the veterinarian, but it is better to carry out preventive cleaning with medications every 2-3 months, until symptoms of the disease appear.

For prevention, a single dose of medication is enough. In case of severe infestation, the pet is given 2 doses with an interval of 14-17 days.

Folk recipes

Of course, it’s better not to take risks and use proven popular tools. But some breeds are sensitive to the components of the drugs, so we have to look for other ways of treatment, traditional methods.

• Dry wormwood is famous for its effectiveness. To avoid poisoning the dog, the course of treatment is limited to three days. Every day the pet is given 1 teaspoon of dry grass (can be mixed into the food).
• Grated carrots scrape helminths from the walls of the esophagus and intestines, pushing them out without killing them. Raw pumpkin seeds work in the same way.
• Parsley is considered an excellent preventive remedy, but dogs do not like its smell. There is a solution - pre-freezing in ice cubes. Then the grass is thawed and added to the feed.

Symptoms of infection

Signs of the disease are most pronounced in kittens. In adults, everything occurs in a latent form. Worms appear in feces only when a large number of them accumulate in the body.

Ultrasound

To exclude blockage of the animal's organs, an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity or an x-ray using contrast is performed.

The treatment regimen for ascariasis is standard, as for infection with other types of helminths. The cat is given antiparasitic drugs. Most often it is Pirantel or Albendazole.

These two drugs have the following effects:

• complete paralysis of adult worms;
• death of larvae;
• leading to a non-viable state of eggs.

The treatment regimen is prescribed individually. Anti-helminth medications have a toxic effect, so you should not take them thoughtlessly. The standard use is Pyrantel (5 mg per 1 kg of weight), Azipirin (0.5 tablets per 1 kg of weight) - both drugs are taken once. Levamisole is administered subcutaneously at the rate of 7 ml per 1 kg of weight.

Therapy is repeated after two weeks. If the condition worsens, Gamavit is placed and special solutions are dripped. In case of serious infestation, intoxication occurs. To relieve its symptoms, corticosteroids and antihistamines are prescribed.

Anthelmintics should not be used on pregnant cats or kittens less than two months old. You should not increase the dosage on your own, as the drugs are toxic and have a negative effect on the liver.

If there is a blockage, surgery is performed. The premises must be sanitized. The cat's bed, toys, and bowls are thoroughly washed and wiped with disinfectants. The floors are washed with a cleaning product.

Sick cat

Diagnostics

The main diagnostic method is to examine stool for worm eggs. It is necessary to carry out three samplings to exclude weak infestations. Tests are carried out at intervals of 10 days, during which time the helminths will be able to reach sexual maturity and begin to secrete eggs.

In rare cases, adults can be found in it. Worms are also found in vomit.

It is advisable to perform an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity to exclude blockage of the intestinal lumen and bile ducts. X-rays can also be taken using barium contrast.

Routes of infection and development of parasites

Toxocariasis, which is the name of the disease caused by roundworm larvae, is not rare. Throughout the country, thousands of cats suffer from this pathology. The main source of infection is already sick animals, which spread worm eggs along with their feces. The infection zone contains soil, plants, interior items, etc. The most “densely populated” place is the animal’s fur, which is where worm eggs are found in greater quantities. Because of this, roundworms also pose a danger to humans.

In addition, there are other ways of infection with roundworms:

1. Intrauterine infection. The larvae of helminths that parasitize the body of a pregnant cat enter the kittens through the mother’s placenta.
2. Accidental ingestion of eggs. A healthy pet can eat the parasite along with food or grass on the yard lawn.
3. Infection from rodents. Almost all wild mice are infected with roundworms.

Mechanism of development of toxocariasis

Worms in an animal's body develop from larvae.

Ascaris eggs, once in the cat’s intestines, go through several stages of development:

1. The shell of the egg dissolves under the influence of digestive enzymes, and only a microscopically small larva remains, which digs into the intestinal walls.
2. Entering the bloodstream through the intestines, the larvae begin to scatter throughout the body.
3. The final destination is the lungs. It is there that the larvae increase significantly in size and move into the bronchi.
4. They enter the oral cavity along with a cough, after which they are swallowed again.
5. Once back in the intestines, roundworms reach sexual maturity.

Roundworms go through several stages of development in a cat's body.

From the beginning to the end of the cycle it takes about a month.

Ways of infection with worms from a cat

According to statistics in Russia, more than half of all cats are infected with internal parasites. Is it possible to get worms from pets? Of course, it is possible, if a pet has helminth eggs in its body, then the person also runs the risk of contracting the infection. Many types of parasites can live in the human body, so cat owners need to be extremely careful.

Children are at greatest risk of helminth infection, because they love to play with their pets. Cats wash themselves frequently, and thus easily spread worm eggs over the entire surface of their fur. After petting a pet, a person takes away some of the parasites with his hand. If you do not wash your hands after every contact with an animal, the risk of helminth infection increases significantly.

Types of cat worms

There are several types of worms that can infect humans. Among them, the most common are:

• roundworms (worms are round in shape). Moving from an animal to the human body, parasites are located in the gastrointestinal tract, contributing to the emergence of serious diseases. Roundworms produce a significant amount of allergens, which in turn provoke violent allergic reactions in humans. Due to damage to the intestinal walls, a malfunction occurs in the body, due to which vitamins and iron are poorly absorbed. This leads to the development of anemia and vitamin deficiency;
• nematodes (thread-like worms). These parasites cause mechanical damage to internal organs and can also cause inflammatory processes in the human body. In severe cases, complications can result in death;
• Dipylidium caninum (tapeworms). As a rule, their owners are cats and small children, and in rare cases, parasites can be found in an adult. The carriers of worm eggs are fleas or lice;
• echinococcus. Causes severe liver disease, affecting mainly the right lobe. An echinococcal bladder forms in it, which increases in size over time and begins to compress the liver. This gradually leads to gastrointestinal disorders.

Ways of infecting animals with helminths

All cats, without exception, are hunters by nature, so even pets, despite their calm and measured life, show natural instincts from time to time. At home, the main sources of infection with helminth eggs are flies, cockroaches, fleas, as well as various rodents, which often become objects for cat hunting.

In addition, raw meat and fish may contain worm larvae. Therefore, it is recommended to feed pets only thermally processed foods.

Prevention

When caring for your pets, first of all you need to remember about the prevention of dangerous diseases, including helminth infections. Harmful parasites are not only unsafe for humans, but also have a negative impact on the health of the animal. Worms cause disturbances in the digestive system, destruction of internal organs and are capable of absorbing nutrients needed by the pet, releasing harmful toxins into the body.

It's no secret that the main guarantee of health is cleanliness. Prevention of helminth infection lies in maintaining general cleanliness.

To avoid eggs and larvae of worms entering the body, you must:

• wash your hands thoroughly after each contact with the cat;
• clean the cat litter box only with protective gloves;
• carry out regular wet cleaning of the premises using special cleaning products;
• carry out disinfection of the animal's sleeping place, as well as regularly treat the pet itself with anti-flea products (timely getting rid of blood-sucking insects will prevent parasites from multiplying and developing);
• do not touch stray cats on the street and do not allow your children to contact them;
• systematically take preventive medications for worms for both children and adults.

By following simple prevention rules, you can significantly reduce the risk of helminth infection. Do not forget to regularly show your pet to the veterinarian and provide timely treatment if necessary.

Are you still sure that it is difficult to cleanse your body of parasitic organisms?

If you are reading these lines, then your fight against parasites apparently was not so successful...

Have you thought about drastic measures to combat the disease? Surely - yes, because parasites are very dangerous - they are capable of multiplying quickly and living for a long time, precisely because of this, the diseases that they provoke often take on a chronic form and occur with constant relapse. Frequent nervousness, lack of appetite, sleep disturbances, problems with the immune system in general, dysbiosis of the intestinal tract... probably all of the above points are familiar to you.

But maybe it would be better to treat not the symptoms, but the cause of the disease? It will be very useful to read the work of Sergei Rykov, who heads the University of Parasitology, on the latest methods of combating parasitic diseases... Read more

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Treatment with traditional methods

If contacting a specialist is not possible, and the animal shows signs of infestation, then treatment can be carried out using traditional methods. Cat breeders recommend using a garlic enema for deworming. It is prepared from four crushed cloves of garlic, which are infused for two hours in 150 ml of boiled water.

For the same purposes, you can use onion infusion for drinking:

• To prepare the product, finely chop 1 onion and brew it in 250 ml of boiling water.
• The liquid is infused for 12 hours, then filtered and divided into 6 equal parts.
• The infusion is given to the animal 3 times a day, 1 part of the liquid, but no later than 40 minutes before meals and no earlier than 3 hours after meals.

A decoction of anthelmintic herbs has a more gentle effect. The fastest preparation time and the least amount of herbs is prepared from dry pomegranate peel and chamomile:

• The ingredients are crushed and combined, 1 teaspoon of each component.
• The mixture is poured into 300 ml of boiling water and heated over low heat for 15 minutes.
• After this time, remove the broth from the heat and leave for 2 hours.

After this, the mixture must be filtered and divided into 4 doses. The resulting amount of decoction is enough for 2 days of treatment, 2 doses per day.

It should be borne in mind that cats are susceptible to allergies, so before starting self-treatment, you need to make sure that you have cat antihistamines in your home medicine cabinet. If self-treatment within three days does not bring relief or the disease worsens, then you must immediately contact a veterinary clinic.

Ascariasis in animals

Within a week, the feces of an infected animal, under conditions of sufficient heat and humidity, become an “incubator”, a favorable breeding ground for developing larvae. They are spread by mice, insects, rain or wind through the soil, plants and surrounding objects. They will enter the body of small animals, be carried on the legs of flies or mice, and become someone’s prey, infecting a new host with axaridosis.

So, as if the water cycle in nature, all carnivorous animals are infected with worms, not just cats.

Some (infected) animals defecate, others (animals or insects) carry or eat everything that the helminth larvae were able to “populate” and become infected in turn.

If your cat is indoor and never leaves the house, this does not mean that he cannot become infected with worms. You yourself can bring helminth larvae on your shoes from the street. Or the cat will catch a fly flying into the window. Or eat raw fish infected with larvae.

Just as it is impossible not to breathe air and not walk on the ground, it is impossible to prevent helminth larvae from entering the body of our pets.

And you should not assume that a sick cat will recover from worms on its own. This is why the owner is needed to recognize the disease and help our pets cope with it. To achieve this, we carry out prophylactic anthelmintic treatment. About once every six months you need to take prophylactic antihelminthic drugs.

Note!

The whole family needs to poison the worm at the same time: animals and people too. If zoo medications are suitable for cats and cats, then a person needs to take medications from those recommended by a human doctor.

Are roundworms transmitted to humans?

Can you get roundworms from a cat? The answer, unfortunately, is yes. Roundworms can be transmitted from a cat to a person if you pet an infected animal and do not wash your hands afterwards, as well as when cleaning the litter tray. If you have a sick animal in your home, be sure to wash your hands with soap and never kiss it. It should be remembered that their eggs protect their vital functions for quite a long time, after they are transmitted to humans, since drugs for the treatment of worms in cats kill only adult individuals.

Recommended reading:

Immunostimulants for cats: instructions for use

How and why does infection occur?

Toxascariasis in cats is provoked by 3 types of toxocara - cati, canis and leonina. Parasites belong to the class of nematodes (roundworms) and reach up to 20 cm in length, have a color from pale yellow to light brown. On the head of the worm there is a mouth opening with teeth, with which the worm damages the mucous membranes and penetrates into the organ. Most often they parasitize in the small intestine. However, they can migrate with the bloodstream and settle in the lungs, brain, and organs of the genitourinary system. The most dangerous worms are in kittens under 3 months of age, when death can occur due to toxins secreted by the worms.

The cat swallows the egg, from which the larva hatches in the body. Invading organs, roundworms damage the mucous membranes, feeding on the beneficial substances of the cat's body. Infection in kittens occurs through a sick mother. Animals become infected in this way:

Helminth eggs can enter the animal's body when it licks itself.

• accidental ingestion of parasites in contaminated water;
• communication with a sick animal;
• presence of fleas;
• eating rodents;
• inhalation of larvae;
• introduction of helminth eggs by the owner with street clothing;
• infection when washing, when the cat licks itself.

About the pathogen

Ascariasis is caused by a parasite called human roundworm or Ascaris lumbricoides. It is called human not because of its humanity and humanity, but for the simple reason that it can live exclusively in the human body. Ascaris will not survive either in the body of a dog, or in the body of a cat, cow or horse.

Ascaris is a roundworm. In general, it does not have a single organ or appendage with which it could attach to organs, and therefore, unlike many other worms, it does not choose habitats in the child’s body, but constantly travels, moving towards food masses. The roundworm is almost devoid of sense organs, there is only touch, which is responsible for the small tubercles around the mouth of the worm.

The roundworm lives in the lumen of the small intestine. These are very impressive parasites in size: an adult female can reach 40 centimeters in length, and a male can reach 25 centimeters. Parasites reproduce sexually, and every day a fertilized female can lay up to a quarter of a million eggs, which are released with the contents of the intestines.

Nature has taken great care of the offspring of roundworms - the eggs are “equipped” with shells that have 5 layers, which make them almost invulnerable to the influence of the external environment. Neither cold, nor chlorine, nor other disinfectants threaten them.

Before finding a new host, the eggs mature in the ground. The warmer the climate in the region, the faster the eggs mature. There are cases where they remained alive and potentially dangerous even after 12 years in the ground.

Roundworms remain “faithful” to their host; they do not change it throughout their entire life. As soon as unfertilized eggs penetrate into the child's body from the soil with dirty vegetables or fruits, having been carried by flies and other unpleasant insects, larvae emerge from them in the intestine, which are able to enter the blood vessels through the intestinal wall, from there into the liver, into the right atrium , lungs. The child begins to cough, and the larvae with mucus move into the pharynx, are swallowed again, and again end up in the small intestine, where they mate and lay eggs. This is a complete life cycle.

The migration phase from the intestines to the lungs through the bloodstream takes up to two weeks. Sometimes young larvae manage to cover the entire path in 8 days. The subsequent intestinal stage after secondary ingestion is the longest. It can last about a year; the first “fresh” eggs begin to appear in the child’s stool within a couple of months after infection.

What the roundworm feeds on is known to science in some detail: at first it is blood serum, but as it grows older, the serum becomes scarce, and the individual begins to consume red blood cells - erythrocytes. The choice is not accidental - roundworms also need oxygen, and these are the cells that carry it. The older the roundworm gets, the more oxygen it needs, which is why individuals devoid of intelligence intuitively strive to where there is the most oxygen - into the lungs.

The insidiousness of roundworms lies in the fact that they do not always clearly follow the phases of the life cycle provided by nature. Individuals can linger in the liver or lungs, causing serious pathological processes there. Over time, they are distributed throughout the body and can affect the pancreas, gallbladder and bile ducts, heart, and brain.

It is noteworthy that roundworms also have benefits. Researchers from California discovered their phenomenal ability to increase women’s fertility. They found that the presence of roundworms in a woman’s body increases the chances of conceiving and bearing a child.

Life cycle

Toxocara felida has a direct life cycle in which cats and other felids are the definitive hosts. But at the same time, the development cycle is quite complex, since not only other mammals (for example, mice and rats), but also earthworms, cockroaches, beetles and even chickens can act as paratenic (transport) hosts. In them, the parasites do not complete development into adults, but can cause pathologies and are infectious to cats if they eat these intermediate hosts.

The main part of the life cycle takes place in the body of the definitive host. Cats swallow the parasite larvae, after which they enter the animal's digestive system. There they form into larvae (0.31 - 0.42 mm in length), which have previously gone through two molts while in the egg in the environment. From the intestines they enter the blood and spread throughout the body. As a result of the migration of larvae, internal organs may be damaged.

Once in the lungs and trachea, the parasites are coughed up and swallowed again to get back into the stomach and settle in the intestines. In the lumen of the small intestine, the last fourth molt (4.3 - 6.5 mm in length) occurs, growth and formation into a sexually mature individual.

During the day, female cat Toxocara lays a huge number of eggs. They are excreted into the external environment along with feces. 1 g of feces of an infected cat can contain more than 100 thousand eggs.

In soil, parasite eggs mature within 2-3 weeks and can pose a danger to humans and animals.

Unlike canine Toxocara canis, the larval form of Toxocara cati does not infect future offspring through the placenta (perinatal route), but infection of kittens through breast milk plays an important role.

Clinical signs of infection

In cats

Infected kittens are stunted and, as a result, underweight for their age. Their coat may be dull and they may be "potbellied."

Worms sometimes come out in vomit or in feces.

Migration of larvae can cause damage to internal organs, leading to pneumonia and cough, ascites, and fatty liver.

In humans

While migrating throughout the host’s body, the larvae of Toxocara feline get stuck in internal organs such as the liver, heart, eyes, lungs and others. They may not show symptoms for years, remaining viable, but they can also become inflamed.

In adults, the disease is often asymptomatic; even a caring owner will not be able to suspect the presence of worms. It is most dangerous for kittens due to the rapid development of intoxication.

Symptoms of roundworm in cats may resemble other diseases:

• the pet becomes lethargic and does not play;
• appetite is disturbed: it is reduced or increased;
• the pet is stunted and weighs less than healthy ones;
• upon examination, you may notice an enlarged, “bloated” abdomen;
• the coat becomes dull and unkempt;
• diarrhea, episodes of vomiting;
• there may be itching in the anus, the cat tries to relieve it by licking itself;
• increased body temperature;
• discharge from the eyes.

When the lungs are damaged, pneumonia occurs and the cat coughs. If the number of roundworms in the intestinal lumen becomes significant, obstruction develops with constipation and increasing intoxication. The release of parasites into the abdominal cavity leads to peritonitis. This condition is life-threatening for the cat.

If the larvae block the bile ducts and infect the liver, jaundice occurs.

Since the symptoms of roundworm in cats are nonspecific, it is necessary to examine the animal in a veterinary clinic. This will help to exclude other dangerous diseases and prescribe treatment in a timely manner.

Invasion will be indicated by the detection of roundworms in the feces. In laboratory conditions, they take an analysis for parasite eggs. If a single study of the material does not give the desired result, it should be repeated up to three times with an interval of 7-9 days.

And only after some time, when the process has already reached its peak, the following symptoms appear:

1. Diarrhea.
2. Temperature increase.
3. Vomit.
4. The development of anemia (can be determined by the pallor of the mucous membranes).
5. Pneumonia.
6. Weight loss.
7. Unhealthy coat appearance (disheveled and dull).
8. Cramps.
9. Purulent plaque on the eyes.
10. Itching of the anus (the cat either constantly licks itself or fidgets on the floor).
11. Bloating.
12. Constipation.
13. Blood in feces.

Kittens suffer the most severe disease. If treatment is not started in time, the pet may die from the toxic effects of helminths on the body. Quite often, a huge number of worms accumulate in the body of small cats, which gather in a ball and rupture the intestines. As a result, the kitten begins to develop peritonitis, and the chances of salvation fade away.

Due to the fact that the larvae are able to migrate through the walls of the placenta, it is more likely that newborn puppies will already be affected by ascariasis. However, there are cases when a healthy bitch gives birth to sick babies. This phenomenon is due to the fact that the mother had a helminthic infestation in the past and, despite all the measures taken earlier, some of the larvae managed to pupate and remained in the mother’s body. Most of the pupae are permanently encapsulated, but a small portion remains that can resume its life cycle.

Due to the fact that, as a rule, preserved larvae settle in the mammary glands of the female, newborn babies can become infected from mother's milk. Veterinarians recommend treating babies immediately after birth, regardless of the health status of the mother in labor. Infection of a pregnant dog requires consultation with a doctor to determine which remedies are safest for the mother during this period.

The larvae of parasites eat food or water. In addition, while walking, dogs are capable of picking up an object from the ground that is strewn with worm eggs or eating a rodent that is a carrier of the pathogen.

Signs of roundworms in cats

In order not to miss toxocariasis in a pet, the owner must be attentive to its well-being and condition. There is a list of signs by which one can suspect a helminthic infestation in a beloved cat:

• decreased activity of the animal - it sleeps a lot or lies motionless;
• growth and development delay in young animals;
• dull and falling out fur;
• thinness against the backdrop of a “brutal” appetite;
• periodic indifference to food;
• disproportionately large abdominal volume, as with bloating;
• worm eggs on the animal’s “pants” and around the anus, which is most noticeable when the fur is long and dark;
• pale tint of mucous membranes is one of the signs of anemia;
• vomiting and diarrhea, sometimes with blood and worms;
• persistent itching in the anal area, which causes anxiety in the animal and leads to the cat aggressively licking the anus.

The most obvious sign of roundworms in a cat is frequent licking of the anus.

When the invasion is extensive, the following may be observed:

• cough as a symptom of respiratory damage;
• narrowing of the intestinal lumen, which leads to constipation;
• obstructive jaundice caused by liver dysfunction. It appears as a yellow tint to the oral mucosa.

In kittens, even moderate helminthiasis causes noticeable changes in appearance, but in adults, thinness and a round belly may not be so noticeable, especially when the cat is long-haired. But disorders associated with disruption of the digestive tract always appear.

An inadequate increase in appetite is an alarming sign for the owner

Timely treatment of an animal is an opportunity to restore its health and prolong its life. The owner's indifferent attitude towards his cat will most likely end in the death of the pet and infection of the owner, as well as other family members. Even if therapy is started late, sometimes it is possible to save animals, but kittens, pregnant cats, as well as old and weakened animals, as a rule, do not survive.

How to treat your pet?

Highly effective antiparasitic drugs are used for therapy, which allow not only to get rid of adult worms, but also to destroy the larvae

It is important that the medications are not dangerous for the cats themselves, and some are even approved for use in kittens in the first month of life. The following products are especially popular among veterinarians and animal owners:

"Kaniquantel plus"

These tablets smell and taste like meat and are considered one of the best anthelmintic drugs. They allow you to fight several types of intestinal worms simultaneously and have a minimum of side effects.

Thanks to its smell, “Kaniquantel plus” is easily eaten by cats

It is important that it is not difficult to “persuade” your pet to eat the medicine - cats take such tablets as a treat and gobble them up with pleasure. For maximum effect of the drug, a single dose is sufficient.

The tablets are approved for the treatment of kittens that are 3 weeks old.

"Milbemax"

Another combined anthelmintic drug, which has meat “signs” that are pleasant for cats, greatly facilitates the use of the drug. Milbemax is sold in tablets with different concentrations of the active substance. This allows you to choose the best option taking into account the age and weight of the animal.

Side effects of Milbemax are minimal and disappear within 24 hours

For babies six weeks of age, with a body weight of 500 g, and adolescent animals, “Milbemax for kittens and young cats” is indicated. For older people there is “Milbemax for adults”. Calculating the permissible amount of the drug is not difficult thanks to the simple and detailed instructions for the drug.

"Prasitel"

An excellent remedy for toxocariasis, approved for use in animals 3 weeks of age. Babies are given a suspension, and for adults Prazitel is released in tablet form.

A single dose of Prazitel is usually enough for a cat to recover

You should feed the medicine to your pet once, adding it to your favorite treat, usual food or drinking water. In case of advanced toxocariasis, it is recommended to take Prazitel again 10 days later.

"Drontal"

An anti-worm remedy that allows you to get rid of nematode parasites (roundworms) and taeniasis (tapeworms). Prescribed at the rate of 1 tablet per 4 kg of animal weight. It is recommended to give the medicine to your pet once, during morning feeding, with its usual food.

Before using Drontal, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian, since intolerance is possible.

If the animal does not have a history of hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, then taking it in recommended doses does not cause side effects.

"Dironet"

Dironet is a line of anthelmintic drugs for cats and dogs. Sold in the form of tablets and suspensions, separately for each type of animal. Effective against round and tape parasites. Additionally, they are available: “Dironet Junior” for kittens, as well as a drug with a brand name in the form of drops for application to the withers. The suspension smells like fresh salmon and is used in a dosage of 1 ml per 1 kg of cat’s body weight.

Dironet may not be suitable for breeds with small dimensions and low weight

In cases where the cat completely refuses to swallow the tablets, they are sometimes replaced with external drops such as Stronghold. Such drugs act more slowly, their concentration in the digestive tract will be less compared to tablets and suspensions.

Stronghold drops are suitable for uncooperative cats, but you should be prepared for the fact that their effect is less than that of tablets

For this reason, it is better to use drops when it comes to the prevention and treatment of helminthic infestation in the initial period. When it comes to a large-scale parasite attack, it is better to choose medications administered orally (through the mouth).

Regardless of whether your pet has had roundworms, it is advisable to periodically disinfect your cat’s accessories.

During treatment, care must be taken to ensure that all household items used by the cat are disinfected:

• bowls for food and water;
• pet tray and toys.

In addition, it is recommended to periodically use antiseptic solutions during wet cleaning of premises. If there are other cats and dogs in the family, you will also have to check them for the presence of worms and, if necessary, treat them.

Popular medications for worming in cats

If someone tried to view and compare instructions for deworming products for cats, they noticed that almost all tablets usually contain two substances:

one of which acts on roundworms (usually piperazine, pyrantel, fenbendazole, milbemycin or emodepside),

and another is effective against flukes and tape parasites (praziquantel).

Therefore, trying to identify something extraordinary and super-effective among them is quite difficult, since their chemical substances are basically the same and they work against the same helminths:

• Tohosaga cati,
• Ancylostoma tubaeforme,
• Ancylostoma braziliense,
• Echinococcus granulosus,
• Echinococcus multi-locularis,
• Dipylidium caninum
• Taenia spp.,
• Mesocestoides spp.,
• Joyeuxiella sp.

This group of universal products with the same set of active ingredients includes:

• drontal - tablets, used from three weeks of age;
• Profender - drops, approved for use from five weeks of age,

prazicide - suspension, not recommended for babies under three weeks of age;

pratel - tablets;

troncil K - used for kittens from 3 weeks;

febtal - tablets based on fenbendazole;

kaniquantel - used for cats and kittens starting from three weeks;

milbemax (not earlier than six weeks of age) - it is worth highlighting because the active substance (mibelmicin oxy) against nematodes not only kills intestinal helminths, but also acts on dirofilaria, which live in the bloodstream and heart of the animal.

Unlike these drugs, polyvercan is based on other active principles: niclosamide (cestodic action) and oxybendazole (anti-nematode), but at the same time it also retains the title of a broad-spectrum anthelmintic.

In pharmacy kiosks you can find another antiparasitic drug in the form of drops - Inspector, which not only has anthelmintic properties, but can also simultaneously act on fleas and ticks, which is very convenient: you can get rid of all parasites in one go. It contains two chemicals:

Fipronil is an excellent insecticide that, after application to the skin, tends to accumulate in its lubricant and hair follicles. Released over a long period of time, it ensures long-lasting activity. It is not recommended for use in kittens under 3 months of age, as well as in sick and old animals, due to possible negative consequences;

Moxidectin belongs to the group of avermectins, but unlike ivermectin, it does not cause signs of poisoning in cats, even with an overdose. Works well against roundworms and is an excellent means of preventing dirofilariasis

If the test for microfilariae and imago is positive, it is prescribed with caution, due to the high probability of the animal dying from intoxication as a result of the decay of helminths

Recently, information has appeared that the drugs drontal, prazitel, and prazitid are often counterfeited, so you should be careful with their use. Not only will these remedies not rid your cat of worms, but they can also be fatal. Therefore, if you are not sure of the quality of the medicine, and the veterinary pharmacy does not have a license for it, then it is better to refuse such a dubious purchase.

Treatment

Getting rid of roundworms is currently carried out in one way - by taking special medications. Most of them are very strong drugs, so it is not recommended to use them thoughtlessly. Each medicine has its own side effects and is selected according to the age, condition and physiological characteristics of the cat.

The most well-known preparations in the form of ointments or drops that are applied to the withers area, where the cat cannot lick them:

• "Helmintal K" is an effective remedy for roundworms for cats weighing more than 4 kg;
• “Prasicide” - suitable not only for adult animals, but also for young cats from 6 months;
• "Prasitel" - used in the case of pregnant animals and kittens in the first month of life.

The elimination period of these drugs is about 25 days, during which they manage to eliminate several generations of roundworms from the body.

For those who prefer tablets, you can also choose the appropriate remedy:

• "Kaniquantel Plus" - has an attractive smell for cats, so it is easy to use;
• "Dirofen Plus" - its use is not permissible during the first 1.5 months of pregnancy;
• "Drontal" is a fast-acting drug, but it cannot be used for kittens under 6 months and for pregnant cats;
• "Milbemax" is a complex product for one-time use.

You can also use drugs for periodic deworming, which is recommended once every 3 months.

Can a person become infected with worms? This question sooner or later arises for those who keep a cat in the house. This affectionate animal creates comfort and a warm atmosphere in a house or apartment. Animals are loved and pampered by children

But kittens also have diseases, so it is important to know whether worms in a cat are transmitted to humans

• roundworms;
• nematodes;
• tapeworms;
• echinococcus.

The most common roundworms are roundworms. Once in the gastrointestinal tract, they cause serious ailments: allergies, anemia and vitamin deficiency. The absorption of essential microelements is impaired. The insidiousness of ascariasis is that it disguises itself as other diseases: pneumonia, asthma, cholelithiasis.

Nematodes, or thread worms, can be found in the body of a cat or a person, choosing different organs and tissues to colonize. Therefore, they are difficult to remove. Helminths, mechanically damaging fibers and cells, cause inflammation, allergies and anemia. By blocking the blood flow, a cyst forms. If the disease is not treated, a deadly complication occurs.

Severe disease in humans is caused by echinococcus. As a result of infection, a hydatid cyst develops, which compresses the liver. Irreversible changes occur in the liver lobules, and those areas in which the worms have settled atrophy. Due to stagnation of bile and blood, the functions of the digestive system are disrupted. Surgery is required. Rather than undergoing treatment for a long time, it is better to prevent diseases that can spread from pets. Therefore, the answer to the question of whether you can get infected from a cat is clear: yes.

How to avoid getting infected with worms?

Worm eggs can be spread from a cat's litter box; worms lay up to hundreds of thousands of them. Thanks to the smooth surface, eggs easily fall onto surrounding objects. Therefore, you need to wear gloves when removing feces: nematode larvae can penetrate, infecting the body, even through the skin. Cat litter boxes and the floor around them must be disinfected.

How can you become infected with worms:

• through dirty hands, passed objects, etc.;
• through food prepared in unsanitary conditions;
• through paper money that has been in circulation for a long time;
• consuming foods that have not undergone sufficient heat treatment;
• when swimming in dirty water;
• when drinking contaminated water.

Prevention measures

If helminths are detected, medications must be taken.

You need to be wary if:

• the cat eats well, but loses weight;
• the animal has no appetite;
• the cat rubs its backside on the floor;
• the pet's hair began to fall out;
• Worms are visible in the feces or under the tail.

If one of your loved ones has become infected with worms, you need to see a doctor who will tell you how to treat them. The patient should eat separately and use only personal hygiene items and utensils assigned to him.

How are worms in cats transmitted to people? Prevention of infection and treatment of worms in cats

Oddly enough, but worms are everywhere: in the thick green grass on the lawn, in the flower bed, on moist soil and warm sand, in river and lake water, and even in the air. They are also found in food: meat, fish, on the surface of fruits and vegetables. It is not surprising that worms also live in the bodies of beloved pets, even those that do not go outside, live well-groomed and eat commercial or thermally processed food.

What then can you expect from stray cats who are used to walking wherever they please? It’s even scary to imagine! Sadly, many parasitic worms in cats are transmitted to people. Particularly dangerous species, entering the human body, eventually reach several meters in length, literally eating it from the inside and destroying internal organs! To avoid such a terrible prospect, you need to know how to remove worms from a cat and cleanse its body. And most importantly, you should learn to protect yourself from these parasites.

Types of worms in cats

To answer the question of whether your cat is a carrier of worms, you need to know the types of worms in cats and the symptoms of diseases associated with them. Even if your pet is still a small kitten who has never left the house before, this does not indicate its “sterility”, because it could become infected with worms from its mother cat.

Signs of heartworms in a cat can be clear and noticeable, such as coughing, vomiting, or chronic diarrhea. Or they can be weakly expressed, for example, as apathy and lethargy. In any case, the symptoms are associated with the harmful activity of a parasitic helminth for the animal.

Most often, kittens and adult furry pets are affected by the following types of worms with the manifestation of the corresponding symptoms: round and tapeworms, flukes. This division is explained by differences in shape, size, feeding habits and methods of reproduction. Let's get to know them better.

Roundworms

Roundworms are classified as roundworms. These are the most common types of worms in cats. White or brown parasites grow up to 10 centimeters in length, and in appearance resemble thin spaghetti with tapering ends. Helminths of this species can be easily found in the feces or vomit of a cat.

If kittens are infected with roundworms, then outwardly this can be determined by a hyperincreased appetite and an unnaturally fat tummy. Some manifestations of the disease in an adult animal can also make a diagnosis. These include: chronic diarrhea, vomiting, poor appetite, lethargy and decreased activity.

The dangerous thing is that roundworms in cats are transmitted to people quite easily. This can happen if a cat licked its fur, which was infected with helminth eggs, and after that you kissed and stroked it (and almost all loving owners do this) and did not consider it necessary to wash your hands again.

Hookworms are roundworms that live in the intestines of animals. Larvae and adult parasites feed on blood and enter the body through the skin. They enter the esophagus through the oral cavity. Manifestations are: constant thirst, vomiting, diarrhea with blood, barking cough, loss of appetite and lethargy.

Nematodes (pinworms)

Nematodes are also a common type of worm in cats. These parasites feed on substances dissolved in the animal's blood and can cause anemia. Infection of an animal's body with nematodes causes a fatal disease and is especially dangerous for small kittens. Adult cats may develop immunity to parasites, and then obvious signs of infection may not appear.

Symptoms of parasitism of this type of worms in domestic cats can be: bloody clots in the stool, diarrhea and associated abdominal pain. These worms in cats are transmitted to humans orally.

Toxocars

Long roundworms can reach 4-18 centimeters. The habitat and at the same time the organs that they affect are the esophagus, gall bladder, liver and intestines of the poor animal.

Infection occurs in utero or through the oral cavity. Once ill, cats suffer from severe exhaustion, accompanied by vomiting, chronic diarrhea and lack of a healthy appetite. Toxocara in the organs of a small kitten grow and multiply so quickly that they can even lead to rupture of the small intestine.

Tapeworms (flatworms)

Cucumber tapeworm

Tapeworms take root perfectly in a cat’s body and feel just as comfortable in a person. An adult tape parasite in an animal can reach 30 centimeters, and in the host’s body - up to one and a half meters! Having settled in the walls of the intestines, it digs in with its sharp hooks, feeds at the expense of the body and seriously damages the mucous membrane.

The carriers are common fleas and lice eaters, which are ingested by the animal itself during hygiene procedures. Signs of the presence of tapeworms: thinness, irritability, pain and rumbling in the stomach, apathy, vomiting and chronic diarrhea, insomnia.

Wide tapeworm

A real giant among parasitic worms! If in a small cat’s body it can grow up to 150 centimeters, then in a person the wide tapeworm develops up to twelve meters! This is a very dangerous worm, which a cat can “catch” from eating raw river fish or accidentally swallowing small freshwater crustaceans. The symptoms of the disease are exactly the same as for tapeworm infection.

Cestodes

Small parasites, about 5 millimeters long, have a flat body and a head on which chitinous hooks or strong suckers are located. The body is conventionally divided into several segments, inside of which are worm eggs during the maturation period. You can see what worms look like in cats in the following photo. They can end up in the intestines of an animal when they eat mice, hamsters, or rats.

Cestodes pose a danger not only to cats, but also to humans. Interestingly, pets can safely carry these worms for years without showing any negative signs. But when they enter the host’s body, the worms pose a deadly threat. For humans, the disease has a severe, slow course and is very difficult to diagnose. It entails liver cancer that metastasizes to the brain, lungs and other vital organs. Therefore, it is so important to carry out preventive treatment of cats against worms in a timely manner.

Flukes

Fluke flatworms are terrible pests that destroy the internal organs of animals and humans. They grow from one millimeter to one and a half meters in length, and multiply very quickly, sticking to the walls of various organs. Upon magnification, you can see that they are equipped with “toothed” suction cups arranged in several rows.

These worms in cats are transmitted to people, like many other types of parasites. They settle in internal organs and slowly destroy them: liver, intestines, bladder, lungs. Non-standard organs, such as the conjunctival sac or eustachian tube, can also be affected. If you eat crayfish and poorly fried fish, there is a high risk of catching fluke worms. A cat can become infected by eating raw freshwater fish.

The liver fluke, as its name suggests, settles in the liver tissue, gradually corroding it. Small individuals damage the pancreas and gall bladder. Significant symptoms may be: loss of appetite, muscle weakness, painful stomach, vomiting and diarrhea of ​​pronounced yellow color, fever. In advanced cases, only long-term complex treatment will save you.

Lungworms can infect a cat that has eaten freshwater shellfish, crustaceans, or drunk river water. Parasites got their name because the smallest worms, not reaching one centimeter, with their parasitic activity provoke the formation of cysts in the lungs, gradually destroying them. Characteristic symptoms of the disease: severe cough, chest wheezing, fever, rise in temperature, weak appetite. And these worms in cats are transmitted to humans, so treatment of the pet is mandatory.

General symptoms of worm infestation

If you are not too lazy to regularly prevent helminthic infestation and constantly monitor your pet, then even in a sick animal the signs of the disease will not be very pronounced, since worms in domestic cats will not have time to reproduce in huge quantities. If you neglect medical measures, you can allow the animal to become rapidly damaged by worms, and often even several types. Sometimes this leads to the death of the pet.

Known general signs of helminthic infection are: dull and falling out hair, conjunctivitis of the eyes, alternating constipation and diarrhea, lethargy, tight abdomen, non-specific odor from the mouth. The disease clearly affects the animal’s appetite: some cats begin to eat a lot, but do not gain weight; Other pets refuse to eat, choosing only their favorite treats.

How can you become infected with worms?

Let's summarize where worms come from in a domestic cat. Firstly, being a predator, it eats prey (birds, rodents) along with parasite eggs. Even after catching a beetle or fly, an animal can become infected with any helminths.

Secondly, the cat swallows helminth eggs along with raw meat, raw freshwater fish, river water, so it is better to protect pets from such a diet. Third, most worms are transmitted through feces. Fourthly, when a cat licks itself, it swallows the eggs of parasitic worms that stick to its fur and paws even at home, because people bring parasites into the house on their shoes and clothes. A person can become infected with helminths from a cat, most often through saliva and feces.

How dangerous are worms for cats and humans?

It can be assumed that what kind of worms are in cats, such parasites are transmitted to the owner. The danger of worms that have settled in the body is that they actively feed on blood, lymph, and tissues of various internal organs, which leads to the inevitable depletion of the patient’s vitality.

Any parasitic worms poison the body of animals and humans with toxic substances that are a consequence of their vital activity and death. Decomposition products also lead to allergic reactions and severe poisoning. In addition, parasites use suction cups and fixing hooks to injure organs, causing vascular ruptures and necrosis.

The appearance of symptoms of helminthic infestation, such as constipation and bloating, may indicate intestinal obstruction. If the lesion occurs in a cat, then it may die, since a huge number of worms block the lumen of the poor animal's intestines, and it cannot empty it naturally. And these are not all the reasons why worms in cats are so dangerous; In any case, treatment should be immediate.

Treatment by a veterinarian

Treatment of worms in cats should be carried out under the guidance of a veterinarian. It cannot be done independently. Despite the fact that there are special deworming products for cats on the market that can be quite effective, they can also cause additional digestive disorders in the animal and may not completely free the cat from worms.

Before you try to rid your animal of helminths on your own, you should definitely consult a veterinarian so as not to harm your pet and quickly cure it of parasitic worms. After all, sometimes you don’t even know the correct diagnosis, what worms look like in cats, let alone medications. And the situation is quite dangerous, because if there are too many large individuals that die and decompose, the animal can die.

Only a specialist can determine whether the identified symptoms are related specifically to helminth damage, or whether there is another reason. The veterinarian will teach you how to remove worms from a cat without harming it. Complex treatment will be prescribed with special drugs that will help cleanse the body during intoxication, as well as antihistamines. This is not done at random, but only after a laboratory examination of feces. Deworming products for cats may not always be suitable for a specific situation, since they contain a certain amount of active substances.

Treating a cat for worms at home

If you are sure that your cat has worms, treatment should still be prescribed by a veterinarian, and you will be required to strictly follow all of his instructions. Correct diagnosis is too important, and, of course, you can give the prescribed therapeutic and prophylactic drugs to your pet yourself.

There have been tragic cases where, having read incorrect information about ways to combat helminths in cats, owners fed medicine to sick animals, and they died from poisoning. For example, some dewormers for cats are effective against tapeworms, while others are effective against roundworms.

Tips for fighting worms

In the fight against parasites, the following drugs are effective and have almost no side effects: “Fenasal”, “Dirofen”, “Phenalidon”, “Praziquantel”, “Cetovex”, “Pyrantel”. Before use, you must carefully read the instructions to avoid overdose. Some tips for deworming:

• after taking the medicine, the cat should be given 1-2 tablets of activated carbon;
• Keep an eye on the cat's potty - after taking the drug, the animal must empty its intestines to avoid poisoning.

Protection and prevention

It is unrealistic to completely protect your pet from helminths. But you can stop their reproduction while maintaining your health, because worms in cats are transmitted to people. Domestic cats are given complex medications once every 4 months, and street cats are given complex medications once every 3 months. Worming of adult animals is done no later than 2 weeks before vaccination. Profender drops applied to the withers are effective against worms for cats. You can also use the drugs “Kaniquantel”, “Prazicide”, “Drontal” and others.

It is necessary to observe hygienic measures: after emptying your favorite animal in the house potty, remove feces immediately; After cleaning the pot, you should wash your hands. In addition, it is advisable to exclude cheese, raw meat or fish from the cat’s diet.

A loving owner is always sad if his pet is sick, because he treats him like his child. Therefore, you should always try to prevent an unpleasant and dangerous situation and monitor the health and behavior of the cat, not forgetting about periodic prevention. If you are not lazy, your pet will always be healthy!

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