Parasites in cats: types, symptoms, treatment

Unfortunately, no matter how hard the owners of pets try, the risk of getting this or that disease still remains. Let's focus only on the invasions in their body. The most common group of dangerous diseases include a variety of parasites in cats. Despite their small size, the accumulation of such organisms causes irreparable damage to the health of the animal, and sometimes leads to its death. The most common way of their spread is transmission through wool, feces, food. Very often, parasites in cats are transmitted from mother to kittens.

Types of parasites and symptoms of the disease

There is a huge variety of living organisms that parasitize our favorite purrs. Which of them can infect any cat? They can be divided into 2 large groups: those inside the body and those living on its surface. Parasites in a cat that infect it from the inside are mainly worms (helminths). Their main types are: nematodes, ascarids, tapeworms, coccidia, hookworms. All of them affect the internal organs of cats and can be transmitted to humans. Worm infestation is especially dangerous for children who just love to squeeze and kiss pets. A timely diagnosis made by a veterinarian will allow you to quickly get rid of these parasites and prevent infection of all family members. That is why owners should be very careful, monitoring the behavior and general condition of pets.

The main symptoms of helminth infestation in cats: swollen belly, frequent and severe cough, diarrhea, increased appetite, dull eyes and fur, visibility of the third eyelid (blinking membrane). When affected by tapeworms, small segments resembling rice grains are observed at the anus. The defeat of coccidia is accompanied by weight loss, blood inclusions in the feces.

The most common external parasites: fleas, ticks, hair eaters, lichens. Insects can now be easily dealt with with the help of modern chemicals, but it is still better to consult a veterinarian before using them. But such a disease as lichen is not so easy to cure yourself. At the first signs of it, you should immediately go to the hospital, since this disease easily affects people (especially children). The greatest danger is "ringworm". After its appearance on the head, the hair can no longer grow on the affected areas.

The defeat of fleas, ticks and hair eaters is accompanied by itching, anxiety, dermatitis (eczema), graininess of the skin, the detection of insects themselves. Symptoms of ear mites: shaking of the head, strong combing, shaking of the ears, tilting of the head to the side, dark lumps of sulfur.

Treatment

All parasites in cats require certain treatment. So, ascarids can be destroyed with the drug "Piperazine". There are a huge number of other medicines that act on all types of worms. Popular antiparasitic drugs: "Pratel", "Drontal", "Prozicit", "Milbemax". Before taking the medicine, the veterinarian determines the dose necessary for each particular pet. It depends on the age, weight and size of the cat. To prevent re-infection, the drug is recommended to be given annually, even when there are no visible signs of this disease. Funds from parasites for cats cannot be used if the animal also suffers from another ailment, since the "rut" of worms in such a pet can end in its death.

External parasites in cats are removed by combing the wool. The detected ticks are carefully removed with tweezers, trying not to leave its parts in the animal's skin. When affected by fleas, ticks and hair eaters, antiparasitic drops are most often prescribed. Their validity period is not very long, which requires repeated re-processing (especially in the warm season). External drops from parasites for cats: "Advantage", "Lawyer", "Bars", "Rexolin", "Frontline". All of them are applied to the withers of the animal. After this procedure, the pet cannot be bathed for several days.