Cat Tapeworms (Cestodes) Symptoms and Treatments
The tapeworm is a parasite that lives in the intestine and feeds on the contents; it is extremely common and cats can pick it up very easily from associating from other cats or from fleas which are known to ingest the eggs. Tapeworms in cats is common and it is easy to prevent and treat too, read on and find out how.
The tapeworm structure is a line of small oblong sections, or compartments, which grow from the main neck. The neck has a series of hooks around a 'crown' together with six sets of 'teeth', and these fasten to the lining of the intestine. The tapeworm then grows section by section, and each section contains a complete reproduction and digestive tract.
As the tapeworm gets longer the older segments fall away from the main body and are excreted by the cat, and either are scattered around the surrounding furniture or bedding or deposited in the litter tray. They are then inadvertently ingested by the cat. However, more commonly it is the cat flea that will feed on these eggs. During grooming the cat will find and eat the flea which is then passed into the digestive system, the flea is then broken down by the digestive process and the flea egg is then in the intestine to start up a new life cycle. It's sensible to assume therefore that by eradicating flea infestations from your cat you are likely to prevent him becoming a host for the tapeworm.
It is generally thought that there is a period of three weeks between the initial ingestion of the tapeworm egg to the emergence of matured sections at the other end. There may well be more than one tapeworm in the cat, and because they are absorbing nutrients from the gut the cat will have problems absorbing enough nutrients for its own growth and condition.
The signs and symptoms of a feline tapeworm being present are firstly the presence of eggs around the bedding or furniture which look like small grains of white rice. Additionally you may find sections of the tapeworm in the litter tray or around the cat's anus, and because they have such a distinctive shape they are easy to recognize. Very occasionally a tapeworm's head will come loose and it will track back up the digestive system into the stomach and then be vomited up.
You will also notice, if he has had the tapeworm for some time, that he is looking thinner or that he is eating much more than he usually does, simply because he is not getting the nutriment that he needs and it is being partially starved by the tapeworm.
Treatment involves persuading the tapeworm to let go of its grip on the lining of the intestine, and this can be achieved by administering anti-worming medication specific to tapeworm, or your vet can administer a injection. The tapeworm then dies and is digested normally. You will need to make sure that his bedding and all furniture is vacuumed and cleaned and all the tapeworm egg sacs removed so as to prevent reinfestation, and maintain a regular worming and flea control program.
4 Common tapeworm species in cats: Diphylidium caninum, Taenia taeniaformis,Dibothriocephalus latus and Spirometra mansanoides. Prevention is always better than cure, Droncit, Vercom and Panacur are very effective remedies, whereas Yomesan and Scolaban are least effective.
The tapeworm structure is a line of small oblong sections, or compartments, which grow from the main neck. The neck has a series of hooks around a 'crown' together with six sets of 'teeth', and these fasten to the lining of the intestine. The tapeworm then grows section by section, and each section contains a complete reproduction and digestive tract.
As the tapeworm gets longer the older segments fall away from the main body and are excreted by the cat, and either are scattered around the surrounding furniture or bedding or deposited in the litter tray. They are then inadvertently ingested by the cat. However, more commonly it is the cat flea that will feed on these eggs. During grooming the cat will find and eat the flea which is then passed into the digestive system, the flea is then broken down by the digestive process and the flea egg is then in the intestine to start up a new life cycle. It's sensible to assume therefore that by eradicating flea infestations from your cat you are likely to prevent him becoming a host for the tapeworm.
It is generally thought that there is a period of three weeks between the initial ingestion of the tapeworm egg to the emergence of matured sections at the other end. There may well be more than one tapeworm in the cat, and because they are absorbing nutrients from the gut the cat will have problems absorbing enough nutrients for its own growth and condition.
The signs and symptoms of a feline tapeworm being present are firstly the presence of eggs around the bedding or furniture which look like small grains of white rice. Additionally you may find sections of the tapeworm in the litter tray or around the cat's anus, and because they have such a distinctive shape they are easy to recognize. Very occasionally a tapeworm's head will come loose and it will track back up the digestive system into the stomach and then be vomited up.
You will also notice, if he has had the tapeworm for some time, that he is looking thinner or that he is eating much more than he usually does, simply because he is not getting the nutriment that he needs and it is being partially starved by the tapeworm.
Treatment involves persuading the tapeworm to let go of its grip on the lining of the intestine, and this can be achieved by administering anti-worming medication specific to tapeworm, or your vet can administer a injection. The tapeworm then dies and is digested normally. You will need to make sure that his bedding and all furniture is vacuumed and cleaned and all the tapeworm egg sacs removed so as to prevent reinfestation, and maintain a regular worming and flea control program.
4 Common tapeworm species in cats: Diphylidium caninum, Taenia taeniaformis,Dibothriocephalus latus and Spirometra mansanoides. Prevention is always better than cure, Droncit, Vercom and Panacur are very effective remedies, whereas Yomesan and Scolaban are least effective.
Cat Roundworms (Ascarids) Symptoms and Treatments
Roundworms in cats, often called 'ascarids,' are the most common parasite of the digestive tract in cats and dogs. There are 3 types of roundworms that affect cats and dogs and each has transport hosts.
Adult roundworms live in the stomach and intestine and attain lengths up to five inches. The eggs are protected by a hard sheel. They are extremely hardy and can live for months or years in the soil. they become infective in 3 to 4 weeks.
Cats acquire the disease through contact with soil containing the eggs or by eating an abnormal host, such as a beetle or rodent, which acquired encysted larvae in its tissues. The larvae are released in the cat's digestive tract.
The 3 types of roundworms are: Toxascaris Leonina, Toxocara Cati and the Toxocara Canis (for dogs). All of these 3 types of roundworms are widely distributed in North America. They are of considerable importance in young animals and in catteries. Because they can cause disease in humans called visceral larvae migrans, they are also very important to our health as well.
Fortunately, treatment is safe, simple, and relatively inexpensive. After administration of the deworming medication (called an anthelmintic), the worms will pass into the stool. Because of their large size, they are easily identified. At least two or three treatments are needed; they are typically performed at 2-3 week intervals. Ideally, kittens are then dewormed again with each visit for kitten vaccinations. None of these treatments will kill the immature forms of the worm or the migrating larvae.
Recommended Medicine: Piperazine compound (Antepar) and Pyrantel pamoate (Nemex)
Adult roundworms live in the stomach and intestine and attain lengths up to five inches. The eggs are protected by a hard sheel. They are extremely hardy and can live for months or years in the soil. they become infective in 3 to 4 weeks.
Cats acquire the disease through contact with soil containing the eggs or by eating an abnormal host, such as a beetle or rodent, which acquired encysted larvae in its tissues. The larvae are released in the cat's digestive tract.
The 3 types of roundworms are: Toxascaris Leonina, Toxocara Cati and the Toxocara Canis (for dogs). All of these 3 types of roundworms are widely distributed in North America. They are of considerable importance in young animals and in catteries. Because they can cause disease in humans called visceral larvae migrans, they are also very important to our health as well.
Fortunately, treatment is safe, simple, and relatively inexpensive. After administration of the deworming medication (called an anthelmintic), the worms will pass into the stool. Because of their large size, they are easily identified. At least two or three treatments are needed; they are typically performed at 2-3 week intervals. Ideally, kittens are then dewormed again with each visit for kitten vaccinations. None of these treatments will kill the immature forms of the worm or the migrating larvae.
Recommended Medicine: Piperazine compound (Antepar) and Pyrantel pamoate (Nemex)
Hookworms
HookwormsHookworms (Ancylostoma braziliense) are also a common parasite in felines, although they cannot be seen with the naked eye. They feed off the blood of the animal they have infested, causing anemia. This can be fatal in felines, especially for kittens. Adult cats often have built up immunity to these parasites, so they may not exhibit any symptoms.
Symptoms caused by hookworms are blood in the stool, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Hookworms can be transmitted to humans through the feet.
Symptoms caused by hookworms are blood in the stool, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Hookworms can be transmitted to humans through the feet.
Heartworms
HeartwormsHeartworms are seen more often in dogs than in cats. Generally, cats are not natural hosts of this particular parasite and probably will not suffer from it unless they are ill and have a compromised immune system. The animal gets the parasite through a bite from a mosquito.
Infected animals will have little or no symptoms of cat worms. Infected animals may die from this kind of infestation or suffer heart/lung damage. There is no single blood test to help identify this parasite. Usually a combination of tests will help a vet make the determination of the presence of heartworms.
Infected animals will have little or no symptoms of cat worms. Infected animals may die from this kind of infestation or suffer heart/lung damage. There is no single blood test to help identify this parasite. Usually a combination of tests will help a vet make the determination of the presence of heartworms.
Stomach Worms
Stomach WormsStomach worms (Ollanulus tricuspis and Physaloptera) live in a cat's stomach. Ollanulus is rare in the United States, but can still be found in stray cats and households
or facilities that have multiple cats. Animals become infected with this stomach worm by ingesting the vomit of an infected animal.
Symptoms of Ollanulus worms in cats are vomiting, weight loss and lethargy. This worm can be identified by a veterinarian through inspection of the infected animal's vomit.
Cats can become infected with the Physaloptera worm by ingesting crickets or cockroaches. It can also be obtained by eating a transport host, such as a rodent, that has also eaten the infected cricket or cockroach.
Symptoms of the presence of the Physaloptera worm include vomiting, loss of appetite and lethargy. A veterinarian can inspect the animal's vomit or stools to identify the presence of these worm eggs.
or facilities that have multiple cats. Animals become infected with this stomach worm by ingesting the vomit of an infected animal.
Symptoms of Ollanulus worms in cats are vomiting, weight loss and lethargy. This worm can be identified by a veterinarian through inspection of the infected animal's vomit.
Cats can become infected with the Physaloptera worm by ingesting crickets or cockroaches. It can also be obtained by eating a transport host, such as a rodent, that has also eaten the infected cricket or cockroach.
Symptoms of the presence of the Physaloptera worm include vomiting, loss of appetite and lethargy. A veterinarian can inspect the animal's vomit or stools to identify the presence of these worm eggs.
