The Fecal Worm Test@Home Kit can be used to test pets including dogs, cats, reptiles, birds, rabbits, turtles, hamsters, and more.
Your veterinarian will take a stool sample to test for the presence of microscopic eggs laid by adult worms. The veterinarian will then mix the sample with a solution that makes the eggs more visible underneath the microscope.
Give them regular worm treatments - ask your vet for the best treatment and method to de-worm your pet. Treat pets for roundworms from a young age and, when they're adults, also treat them for tapeworms. Different worms may need different treatments - ask your vet which treatment is safe and suitable for your pet.
Standard Deworming Protocol
This can be done with the help of a veterinarian, or at home with the correct over-the-counter medication and information. Dewormer can be given as young as 2 weeks of age, and should be repeated at 4 and 6 weeks of age.
The safest and most effective way to deworm your cat is with a deworming medication prescribed by a veterinarian. A Hello Ralphie consult can help you determine which approach is best for your cat. Most deworming medications are administered orally or topically.
Deworming medications are very safe medications that rarely have side effects. This is because they are designed to act on the nerve cells off worms, which are extremely different from the nerve cells of cats or dogs. The dewormer kills the parasite without affecting the pet at all.
Worms can live for a long time inside a cat, depending on the species of the parasite. They can live for months, if not years, in the intestinal tract. It's important to have your cat's fecal material screened annually as an adult cat, and more frequently for kittens, to ensure they are not harboring parasites.
Worm infestations that are left untreated can be dangerous, even fatal, for your cat. Migration of larvae through the organs and tissues of the body as they make their way to the intestine could result in severe skin infections, blindness, convulsions, or pneumonia, depending on the path of larval migration.
Fecal exams
None of us want internal parasites crawling in our pet's intestines. Luckily, you can quickly catch these microscopic critters with a relatively affordable exam. Lab tests can cost $25 to $50. Your vet may recommend a fecal exam to be given annually, or as needed.
So how do indoor cats get infected with worms? Indoor cats will hunt just about anything in your home. Rodents, insects, and other household pests harbor worm eggs, which are passed on to your cat when he devours them. Mice and the common house fly are just two of the many critters that can carry roundworms eggs.
Of course, there are ways to find out if your pet is infected. If a cat or kitten vomits up a worm, there is a good chance this is a roundworm (especially in a kitten). Roundworms are long, white and described as looking like spaghetti.
Because worms are parasites that feed on your cat's nutrients and, in some cases their blood, cats can develop a host of health problems, such as anaemia. In severe cases of worm infestations, they can block the intestines, causing very serious health issues. In rare cases, worms can be fatal, especially for kittens.
Both indoor cats and outdoor cats are at risk of contracting worms. Infestation depends on the type of worm, but most often, cats get worms by coming into contact with fleas, eggs or infected particles in feces.
Is It Normal for Roundworms to Come Out After Deworming? Yes! It is pretty common to see live and dead roundworms in the stool of your cat (or dog) after deworming. While it is unpleasant, it means that your pets no longer carry roundworms.
Did you know dogs and cats can get intestinal worms from doing things they normally do, like playing outside or grooming themselves? Elanco's over-the-counter dewormers are a simple and effective way to deworm a dog or cat at home.
Adult cats: Most cats should be dewormed at least every three months. A typical deworming schedule is four times a year — once for each season. Prolific hunting cats: Cats that like to hunt are at much higher risk of getting worms from eating infected rodents like mice.
The worms should be gone in two to three weeks after administering the dewormer medication. A second deworming might be needed a few weeks later to eliminate all the worms because the medication affects life cycle stages differently.
Symptoms may include diarrhoea, tiredness and weakness, abdominal pain and weight loss. Some worms cause anaemia.
Treat adult cats (greater than 6 months of age) every 1-3 months with a product that is effective against both tapeworms and roundworms. A product active against Dipylidium caninum should also be used in kittens that have flea infestations.
Re: Should I not pet/cuddle my outdoor cats? (worms/parasites human safety question) Like has been said, most internal parasites will need to be carried from faeces to mouth in order for them to infect you. As long as you are careful to wash your hand properly after handling your cats you should be fine.
Sadly, no - even indoor cats are at risk from worm infestations. This is because there are two other routes of infection. Firstly, the most common cat tapeworm (unreasonably named the “Dog Tapeworm”, or Dipylidium caninum) has a unique intermediate host - the flea.