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Worm Control
and Treatment for Cats |
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Damson House Veterinary Clinic |
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Could my
cat have worms? Most cats in the U.K. are allowed outdoors and are
likely to be exposed to worm infections, particularly in areas where there
are lots of cats. Even cats kept indoors may become infected, for example
from fleas. Why worry? Although worms may not cause any signs of disease,
heavy infections can cause severe disease and even death particularly in
young kittens. Also there have been some cases of human infection by cat
worms. Where do the worms come from? We see 2 types of worms commonly in our pet cats,
tapeworms and roundworms. TAPEWORMS: Two
tapeworms occur in cats in the U.K. Dipylidium caninum is the commonest and
is carried by fleas. The cat becomes infected by swallowing fleas when it
grooms itself and 3 weeks later there will be adult tapeworms in its
intestine. Taenia taeniformis infection occurs when the cat eats an infected
rodent. If your cat has tapeworms, you will often see the worm segments
around its anus; they look like rice grains. ROUNDWORMS: Kittens become infected
from their mothers via the milk so it is very important to worm kittens
thoroughly. Adult cats can also become infected by eating rodents, birds or
molluscs(such as snails+slugs!!). Occasionally we also see lungworm
infections in adult cats which they can also get from eating rodents, birds +
molluscs. If your cat is infected with roundworms, you may see them either
being vomited up or in the faeces. They look like white earthworms. What can
I do about it? There are often no obvious signs that your cat has got worms,
so it is best to worm routinely and prevent build up of large numbers of
worms. There are many different worming preparations available, which vary
considerably in how effective and safe they are. We choose wormers based on
their efficacy and safety. KITTENS: Most
kittens will get roundworms from their mother's milk. We use GRANOFEN
granules which can be given mixed in food. Worming can start as soon as the
kitten is weaned, and we recommend worming monthly until the kitten is 6
months of age. GRANOFEN is effective against all the roundworms and some
tapeworms. If you see tapeworms in your kitten or if your kitten has had
fleas, it is advisable to use a dose of DRONTAL CAT as well. ADULT CATS : We use DRONTAL CAT tablets
routinely twice yearly. If your cat is a hunter, it is better to worm more
frequently- 4 times a year. DRONTAL CAT is the only wormer effective against
all the round and tapeworms that can infect cats. If your cat has had a flea
infection or if you have seen tapeworms, you should use DRONTAL CAT tablets
at the same time as using flea control. STRONGHOLD is a drop-on preparation
that kills roundworms and also fleas and earmites simply by applying a few
drops to the back of your cat's neck each month. It can be used in kittens
over 6 weeks old. NB Please remember that although these wormers will clear
the worms from your cat's system, they will not prevent him from picking up
worms again as soon as he swallows a flea or eats a rodent or bird. Therefore
repeated worming every 3 - 6 months is very important. |
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Damson House Veterinary Clinic 82 Damson Lane, Solihull, West Midlands. B92 9JP Tel.
0121 711 3775 |
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Services |