The drug acts on round and tapeworms. The most effective way to get rid of worms is in the form of a tablet or suspension. The active substance disrupts the vital functions of parasites, as a result of which they die. It is recommended to poison helminths with the following veterinary drugs:
- "Drontal";
- "Pyrantel";
- "Albendazole";
- "Milbemax";
- "Kaniquantel plus"
For anthelmintic therapy to be effective, you must follow the rules for using antiparasitic tablets:
- Medications are given in the morning on an empty stomach, having correctly selected the right dose for the animal.
- After 10 days, the drug is given again.
- Antiparasitic tablets are used before vaccination 2 weeks, as well as 14 days after birth and before lambing 21 days.
- Treatment against worms in a kitten can be done 3 weeks after its birth.
- After using anti-parasitic tablets, after 4 hours you need to give the cat a sorbent to drink to remove the toxins that the poisoned parasites secrete.
Antihelminthic drops
The drug is applied in places inaccessible to licking.
Medicine in the form of drops helps get rid of worms well. It is applied to the withers, but you only need to drip onto the skin, otherwise the drug will not work. The skin absorbs anthelmintic drops, they enter the bloodstream and paralyze the parasites. After 2 weeks, the cat must be treated again. In most cases, worms in pets are removed with the following drugs:
- "Advocate";
- "Inspector";
- "Stronghold";
- "Profender".
Folk remedies
You can cure a cat of worms using alternative medicine. Home remedies have fewer side effects than over-the-counter veterinary medications. They expel helminths from kittens, pregnant and elderly cats, but such anthelmintic therapy lasts much longer. Sometimes allergic reactions are possible. Most often, the following folk remedies for worms in cats give a positive result:
- Onion water. Chop 1 small onion and pour a glass of boiling water over it. The mixture is infused for half an hour and given to the pet to drink once a day. This remedy will remove helminths within 1 month.
- Burdock. Take the root of the plant, cut it into small pieces and pour half a liter of water. Boil for 5 minutes, turn off the heat and leave for another 2 hours. Burdock can help remove all types of worms from kittens. The product is given to cats to drink twice a day, 50 ml.
- Vodka. Take 50 g of tansy flowers, add a glass of water and leave in a water bath for half an hour. Add 20 ml of vodka to the cooled solution. Give your pet 1 teaspoon of medicine twice a day. A product containing vodka cannot drive out parasites with chronic infestation, since the body of such cats is weakened, and alcohol will further aggravate the situation.
Causes
It is generally accepted that only street animals can get worms: after all, they live in unfavorable conditions and feed on everything.
But, even if all hygiene standards are observed and the diet is carefully prepared, parasites can also appear in a pet. And then the causes of infection are as follows:
- Infection is inherited. This reason is especially relevant for animals under the age of one month. If a pregnant cat had helminths, then, most likely, they will appear in her kittens while still in the womb.
- Contact with outdoor shoes. Worm eggs are found in large quantities in the soil, sand or grass that a person brings into the house on his shoes.
- Drinking raw water.
- Fleas. These insects often carry helminth larvae, which can also cause infection.
- Interaction with a sick animal. A kitten that comes into contact with an infected cat or dog almost always takes on parasites from them.
- Hunting for insects. For example, flies that kittens can catch live around accumulations of sewage and carry parasite eggs.
- Open pet access to the trash can. A home trash can, of course, contains fewer parasites than street bins, but it is also possible to become infected from it.
Types of worms in dogs and cats
In dogs, as in cats, there are three groups of worms:
- Nematodes (roundworms).
- Trematodes (flukes).
- Cestodes (tapeworms).
Nematodes are invasive diseases of dogs and cats, the causative agents of which are representatives of the class of roundworms (Nematoda), and are collectively called nematodes. This type of worm parasitizes not only the intestines, but also affects the heart, aorta, eyes, kidneys, bladder and subcutaneous tissue. The most common representatives of this group are roundworms, pinworms, whipworms, toxocaras, hookworms, trichinella, strongoloidiasis, heartworms.
Trematodes are helminth infections caused by representatives of the class of flukes or trematodes (Trematoda). A large number of trematode species are known in animals, each of which is characterized by structural features, life cycle, localization (habitat) and pathogenic effects on the host organism. Trematodes in dogs and cats most often parasitize the liver and intestines. The most common representatives of this group are fascioliasis and opisthorchiasis.
Cestodoses are diseases in dogs that are caused by representatives of the class of tapeworms or cestodes (Cestoidea). They are collectively called cestodiases. Sexually mature cestodes parasitize animals only in the intestines. The larval stages of causative agents of cestodiasis can parasitize a variety of organs and tissues in both animals and humans. The most common representatives of this group are dipylidia, diphyllobothriasis, alveococcosis, taeniasis, and echinococcosis.
Main symptoms
Depending on where in the body the parasites live, the signs of the disease vary. But in any case, there are general signals that indicate the presence of helminths:
- refusal to eat;
- weight loss;
- slow pace of development;
- dulling or hair loss;
- vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, bloating;
- purulent discharge around the eyes;
- apathetic behavior;
- presence of blood in stool or vomit;
- itching;
- restless meowing;
- in advanced stages - the presence of helminths in the feces or blood.
If you detect at least one of these symptoms, you should immediately contact a veterinary clinic to receive qualified help.
Folk remedies
With the advent of veterinary clinics, pet owners undeservedly forgot about folk remedies. You can resort to them immediately if you detect symptoms of infection in cats. Ordinary products, plant collections, seeds, which are found in every home, can be useful for preparing infusions for helminths. How to remove worms from a cat using folk remedies? There are several of the most common methods of preparing decoctions and mixtures.
Decoction of tansy and wormwood
Well-known folk remedies are herbal decoctions. A collection made from tansy and wormwood helps well against parasites. Flowers are taken from the plants, dried and stored in a tin can. To prepare a decoction, you need to mix two teaspoons of each component and scald with boiling water, 250 ml. To treat helminths, give the cat three tablespoons of decoction in the morning for three days.
Garlic
Not every cat will agree to eat garlic. There are lovers who eat vegetables and fruits, and this folk remedy was invented for them. One clove of garlic is crushed and added in portions to the food. The period of application is seven days. One clove of garlic is enough for a day. This excellent remedy is more suitable for the prevention of helminths. It is still not worthwhile to completely replace treatment with garlic. It is better to contact a specialist and determine how to remove worms from cats.
Crushed pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seeds are used to treat diseases not only in humans, but also in animals. They are known for their beneficial properties. To treat helminthiasis you will need peeled pumpkin seeds. They need to be crushed, and for 300 g of seeds add 50 ml of water (unboiled water is not recommended) and 15 g of honey. Feed the resulting infusion to the animal, and after half an hour give an enema. There is also a second recipe. Add the same amount of sunflower oil or pork fat to 5 g of crushed seeds. Give to your pet on an empty stomach for 5 days in a row.
Diagnostics in a veterinary clinic
To speed up your kitten’s treatment and avoid possible complications, it is recommended to immediately come to the doctor for a stool test. If an animal has been constipated for a long time, then a sample of its vomit will be suitable to identify worms. Also at the clinic, the doctor must take blood for analysis. These measures determine whether the animal has worms and determine their type.
Next, based on the research, the doctor prescribes special medications, a diet and sets the date for the next examination.
When are medications contraindicated?
In some cases, worms in cats cannot be treated with medication. Medical therapy is not prescribed:
- Kittens less than 3 weeks old.
- Pregnant and lactating cats.
- Animals with additional diseases.
When using anthelmintic drugs, it is important to read the indications for use
The doctor may not allow deworming due to the individual characteristics of the animal.
What to do at home
After visiting a doctor, you need to purchase the medications prescribed by him as soon as possible and begin treatment. In no case should you select anthelmintic suspensions or tablets on your own, since they all have different effects depending on the type of parasites and their habitat.
The deworming product should be designed specifically for kittens. This is due to the fact that drugs for adult animals have a different dosage, and sometimes a composition that a small pet may not be able to withstand.
After correct and successful selection of the medicine, treatment should be started immediately. The kitten should be given the product in the amount recommended by the doctor or as indicated in the instructions. The drug is often used with meals.
Also, for faster and more successful treatment, the following rules should be followed:
- provide your pet with a quiet, warm place to rest;
- ensure constant access to fresh boiled water;
- wash the animal with anti-flea shampoo.
Tapeworms
The most common tapeworm is Dipylidium caninum.
The immature stages of this helminth are found inside fleas: cats swallow these fleas while licking their fur, and within three weeks, an adult tapeworm develops from the ingested fleas in the cat's small intestine. Adult tapeworms have a segmented body.
The lower segments of tapeworms (full of eggs) are separated from the body of the helminth and are excreted from the body with feces, but they can also exit independently through the anus. Once dry, they look like small grains of rice attached to the fur around the anus.
Tapeworm infestations usually cause few problems in adult cats, but in kittens they can cause stunted growth and cause poor coat condition, anal irritation, and digestive problems.
Possible complications
A late visit to the doctor or incorrectly selected self-medication threatens the kitten with serious complications that can lead to death or severely weaken the pet’s immunity for life.
Parasitism of helminths on any organs also causes mechanical damage. As a result, internal bleeding or ulcers may occur.
Dead worms, decomposing, contribute to intoxication of the body and its internal poisoning.
Also, helminths often cause intestinal blockage and, in advanced cases, rupture.
Tablets or drops for deworming?
Today, there are many fairly easy-to-use products available for the prevention and treatment of helminthiasis in cats. There are suspensions, tablets and drops on the withers. Due to the nature of cats, giving them a tablet or suspension can sometimes be quite difficult, especially if it is not done by a veterinarian. At the same time, drops on the withers are always a convenient form of application, during the treatment of which both the cat and its owner experience a minimum of stress. This drug is in the form of a small volume solution, which is simply applied to the skin in the area of the cat’s withers. After a short time, the drug penetrates the skin and affects a wide range of parasites.
One of the drugs in the form of drops on the withers with a wide spectrum of action is the drug Broadline Spot-On. It fights both roundworms and tapeworms. In addition to helminths, Broadline Spot He fights fleas and ticks. Given the wide spectrum of action and convenient form of application, which is much less stressful for the cat than tablets, Broadline Spot It is a good option for comprehensive protection of cats from parasites.
1 ESCCAP Guideline 01 Third Edition* – July 2022 esccap.org ISBN 978-1-907259-47-0
Rules for taking anthelmintic drugs
Deworming is prescribed before vaccinations and mating, as well as as a treatment for helminthic infestations. If the animal has recently undergone surgery or illness, it is better to hold off on deworming - the veterinarian will tell you when the procedure can be carried out.
When giving medicine, be sure to follow the instructions. The dose is calculated according to the weight of the animal and its general condition. It is advisable to choose the time in the morning, before feeding, in order to avoid nausea and evaluate the effectiveness of the chosen method the day before.
Don’t yell at the cat or scold her - try to convince her in a gentle and at the same time firm voice that the procedure is not scary, but obligatory. An overly aggressive or active cat can be wrapped in a towel or thick jacket to prevent it from scratching you. Help from a member of the household wouldn't hurt either.
If you have never given your cat medication, ask a more experienced relative or friend to perform the procedure on your cat. A person with extensive experience is able to give a pill quickly and painlessly - so that the mustachioed person does not even have time to understand what happened. Over time, you will acquire the necessary skill and will be able to deworm a cat alone and very deftly.
