Cat Worms"Cat worms are parasite that enter your cat. They can be contracted from a mosquito bite (heartworm), from eating eggs (roundworm) or from the ground or water (hookworm). Treatment for hookworms usually kills roundworms as well. Cats are only treated for heartworm if they show symptoms. " There are many kinds of worms that can affect your cat. Each type of parasite (another name for worms) has its' own characteristics. Worms vary in size and how they affect your cat. Younger, intact and mix breed cats have a higher prevalence rate for both roundworms and hookworms. Roundworm infection are more common in summer, fall and winter, while hookworms are more common in the summer as compared to the spring. Note that ringworm is not due to worms, but has the name due to an appearance that looks like a worm. There are a number of different worms that cats can become infected with. Roundworms (toxascaris leonina and toxocara cati) – Adult roundworms are white or brown in color and are several inches long. You may notice them in your cat’s stool or vomit. Symptoms of roundworms include weight loss and a “potbellied” appearance.
Hookworms (ancylostoma tubaeforme and ancylostoma braziliense) - These worms get their name from the hook-like mouth parts they use to attach to the wall of the small intestine. They are considered “tissue feeders,” but also suck blood from the intestinal wall.
Tapeworms (also called dipylidium) – These worms include a head and many segments and are often caused by eating fleas or small rodents. They cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Heartworms - These cat heartworms live in the heart or in the arteries going to the lungs. They can cause heart or respiratory failure with the worms being a big problem for cats because of their small heart. While there is medication to treat heartworms in dogs, they are very difficult to treat in cats. Symptoms of heartworm include salivation, tachycardia (rapid heart rate), shock, dyspnea (labored breathing), hemoptysis (spitting up blood), vomiting and diarrhea, syncope (loss of consciousness), dementia, ataxia (unsteady movements), circling, head tilt, blindness and seizures. Almost one-third of cats diagnosed with heartworm were housed solely indoors. There are now three drugs with FDA approval for use in cats. Ivermectin is provided in a chewable formulation, milbemycin as a flavored tablet and selamectin comes in a topical formulation. Whipworm: This type of worm is not commonly seen in cats. A cat will contract whipworms from drinking water or food that contains worm eggs. Unfortunately there aren't any approved treatment approaches for this type of infection. Can you See Cat Worms in Their Stool?While you can see some worms in cat stool, it is more common that you can’t.Roundworms – Long white or brown worms that can be seen in the stool. Hookworms – Microscopic eggs that cannot be seen without a microscope. Tapeworms – You can see worm pieces in the hair near your cat’s anus. They look like grains of rice. Can also see eggs under a microscope. Worms MedicineMany of the common feline worms can be effectively managed by placing cats on a year-round preventive medicine program. There are several worm medicines for the many types of cat worms.Revolution – Spot-on heartworm, roundworm, and hookworm Drontal-Tablets - for roundworm, hookworm, and tapeworm Felex Plus-Paste - for roundworm, hookworm, and tapeworm If you cat frequently has a problem with parasites such as worms a natural dietary supplement is worth a try. PetAlive makes a supplement designed to naturally expel internal parasites like Heartworm, Roundworm and Tape Worm. Check with your veterinarian. How Your Cat Gets Worm TypesKittens with cat worms probably inherited them from their mother. Adult cats tend to catch worms either from an insect bite or because they came in contact with the feces of an infected cat. Even if the feces were removed, eggs might remain that cause infection.Worm Types That Can Pass From Your Cat to Adults and ChildrenIt is possible for humans to get intestinal worms from your cat. This is common in children where they touch cat feces. Children that crawl on the ground or play in sandboxes can ingest the eggs that result in worms.Humans can get roundworms from cats, and less frequently, tapeworms and hookworms. Other worms such as heartworms do not infect humans. How to Keep from Getting Worms from Your Cat- Wash hands after handing your cat, particularly children- Immediately dispose of cat poop - Wash your hands after handling cat feces -If your cat has signs of worm, have her examined by a vet Natural Remedies and Cat WormsNatural remedies to help with cat worms are made from a collection of herbs thought to support digestive health and the immune system. The herbs are safe and might be worth trying if cat worms are a frequent problem. Remedies include:* Artemisia absinthinium (Wormwood): thought to cleanse the blood and digestive tract. (Baumann, I. C., Glatzel, H., and Muth, H. W. “Studies on the effects of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.) on bile and pancreatic juice secretion in man”. Z.Allgemeinmed. 6-20-1975;51(17):784-791.) * Eugenia caryophyllata (Cloves) contain strong detoxifying agents. Studies have even investigated this herb for its ability to discourage pests. (Barnard, D. R. “Repellency of essential oils to mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae).” J Med Entomol. 1999;36(5):625-629.) * Azadirachta indica (Neem) Studies have investigated the properties of this to act as a natural repellant. (Sharma, S. K., Dua, V. K., and Sharma, V. P. “Field studies on the mosquito repellent action of neem oil.” Southeast Asian J.Trop.Med.Public Health 1995;26(1):180-182.) * Ruta graveolens (Herb of Grace) Studies have shown this herb to have a supportive action on cardiac health. (Chiu, K. W. and Fung, A. Y. The cardiovascular effects of green beans (Phaseolus aureus), common rue (Ruta graveolens), and kelp (Laminaria japonica) in rats. Gen.Pharmacol. 1997;29(5):859-862.) One product made specifically for cat worms that combines all of these ingredients is PetAlive Parasite Dr. Capsules which naturally expel internal parasites like Heartworm, Roundworm and Tape Worm in cats. Alert your veterinarian so that he or she can track progress. Sources:Feline Heartworm Disease 2003Clarke E. Atkins, DVM, DACVIM Professor of Medicine and Cardiology North Carolina State University Total Parasite Control - Piecing the Puzzle Together Feline Preventive Care Review From Cat Worms to Cat Health Guide Home
|
