The Shocking Truth About Round Worms in Cats
It is always a joy choosing a new little kitten and taking it home for the first time. However, you may be faced right from the start with signs of a common health problem in weaned kittens: a distended abdomen and feline diarrhea with signs of colic. All these symptoms may be caused by roundworms and you will need to take action to avoid further deterioration.
Cat diarrhea is a symptom that is correlated to gastrointestinal disorders. Enteritis is caused by many infectious agents, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and endoparasites. Especially weanling kittens will suffer from roundworm infestation if preventative worming of the cat’s mum and kittens did not take place or were not given according to a proper schedule.
Feline nematodes infect the small intestines and cause generally loose stools, colic, and vomiting, but also constipation or obstruction and the inability to absorb enough nutrients from food. Related signs are frequently a distended belly, loss of condition and poor growth, a cough caused by migrating larvae, and a rapidly developing weakness in young cats.
Roundworm larvae are transmitted with the colostrum and milk of queens. Therefore it is very important to treat breeding cats at least before and after pregnancy and her whole litter by the age of 4 weeks.
Weanling kittens should get worming treatment every fortnight, up to the age of 3 months. From then on they should receive regular treatment throughout their life. This helps to control worm counts in a cat’s intestines and the environment. Poor growth, weakness, and a weak immune system can be avoided effectively this way.
Suitable cat dewormer for kittens and pregnant queens contains fenbendazole which eliminates adult roundworms. Fully grown-up cats can be treated with anthelmintics that are effective against adult worms and their larval stages. There are many different cat worm medicines available that come in different forms, such as tablets, paste, granules, liquids, or topical spot-on. Especially spot-on products can be used conveniently and are easily administered onto the skin, so you can be sure that your cat got the whole dose.
Cat roundworm infestation can be controlled well by using modern cat worm medicine that eliminates this kind of feline parasite safely. Determining and following a regular treatment plan is crucial and will avoid serious health conditions and complications in young kittens effectively. A healthy kitten will grow up and live a healthy adulthood that will last hopefully for at least nine lives!
