Owner’s Look At Roundworms In Felines

July 14, 2009 by  
Filed under Cat Care

Many cats are affected by parasitic roundworms. These worms, which can grow up to six inches long, inhabit the intestines. Kittens can easily die from a severe infestation. Keep reading to learn all about roundworms in felines.

Transmission

Cats are typically infected by their mother. Cats infected late in their pregnancy may pass them to their kittens via milk. Cats can also swallow eggs harbored in the soil or consume a rodent that was infected.

Signs

A mild infestation of roundworms in cats usually cause no symptoms in either kittens or adults. As the condition gets worse, various symptoms occur. They include coughing, constipation, diarrhea, and vomiting. It’s also common for cats infected with these worms to develop a dull coat of hair and a pot-belly.

Diagnosis

Fortunately, this condition is easily diagnosed. Since there are usually plenty of eggs in an infected cat’s stool, a stool sample will be analyzed. A solution will be added to the sample to make the worm eggs float so they can be detected easier.

Treatment

Once diagnosed, roundworms in cats is simple to treat. Your cat will have to take deworming medication. So that they can be passed out through the stool, the medication will incapacitate the worms. However, immature worms aren’t affected by this medication. This is why cats need to take multiple rounds of deworming medication a couple of weeks apart.

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Owner’s Look At Coccidiosis In Felines

July 10, 2009 by  
Filed under Cat Care

Coccidiosis is a disease caused by highly contagious protozoans. The intestinal tract is the prime target for the invading protozoans. Kittens that are less than six months old are usually affected since their immune systems aren’t fully developed yet. Older cats can also be affected if they have a weakened immune system for some reason. So, how are these protozoans transmitted to your cat?

Transmission

Infected cats shed immature coccidia in their feces. After ingesting the feces contaminated with coccidia, they will start to multiply in the intestinal tract. Most kittens become infected when around their infected mother’s feces. Cats can also become infected if they eat a rodent that ingested the protozoans itself.

Symptoms

Your cat will begin to display signs approximately two weeks after ingesting the protozoans. Most kitties with ths condition experience feline diarrhea. This can be mild or severe depending on how advanced the infection is.

Common signs of a severe infection include loss of appetite and vomiting. Dehydration can quickly develop due to vomiting and diarrhea. This can be life-threatening to kittens. The disease proves to be fatal in some cases.

Diagnosis

These parasites can be detected using a stool sample. However, the parasites may be hard to detect since they’re immature. The sample will have to be examined closely in order to detect the presence of coccidia. In some cases, a blood test can be used to diagnose coccidiosis.

Treatment

Antibiotics are needed to treat this condition. Your cat will need to take this medication for about two weeks. Doing so will eliminate the possibility that all parasites weren’t eliminated. It’s possible for the disease to recur if your cat is exposed to the same environment again. Bleach and water would be needed to disinfect the environment.

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