Protect Your Cat From Worms

Lungworms

Lung worms usually affect younger kittens, under 2 years old. Your cat may come contract the worm by coming in contact with another infected animal. Lungworm can cause sever bronchial infections.

Symptoms

1. Coughing/Wheezing
2. Fatigue
3. Weight loss

Hookworms

Hookworms infect your pet by attaching themselves to your cat's intestines. They will feed of your cat's intestinal tissue and blood. This can lead to anemia especially in kittens. Hookworm eggs are passed through an infected animals feces where they will borrow under ground until they are ingested bu another host.

Symptoms

1. Anemia/Weakness
2. Pale gums
3. Poor coat
4. Bloody feces or diarrhea
5. Weight loss

Tapeworms

Tapeworms are parasites that live in your pets intestines. They are passed on to you pet though flee larva. If your cat is infected with tapeworms slight to sever weight loss may occur. In rare cases tapeworms have lead to intestinal obstruction.

Symptoms

1. You cat scoots or drags it's backside across the grass or carpet due to anal irritation
2. You may see segments from the tapeworm around you pets tail or anus
3. Very rarely the tapeworm will loose its hold on your pets intestines and migrate to the stomach. If this happens your pet may vomit the parasite.

Roundworms

Roundworms are not particularly harmful to adult cats but can be past to kittens through their mothers milk. Unlike other worms this large parasite (3 to 6 inches) swims in the cat's intestinal track instead of attaching itself to the wall. Roundworms will cause the most damage in their larval form when the migrate into the lungs, liver, heart and muscles.

Symptoms

1. Pot-bellied appearance
2. Stomach pain
3. Lack of appetite
4. Vomiting/Diarrhea
5. Stunted growth

Ringworms

Ringworm is not technically a worm but a fungal infection. The fungus will affect your pets hair skin and nails, forming a large oval shaped discoloration. Ringworm is not especially dangerous but can easily be passed from animal to animal or from animal to human.

Symptoms

1. Circular patches of hair loss or baldness

If you believe your cat is infected by any or these parasites your should immediately take your pet to a veterinarian.