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How Can I Check if My Cat has Worms?
INTRODUCTION
Checking cats for worms is not an exciting thing to do, which means it’s probably not done very often … if ever. Unfortunately it’s necessary sometimes because it’s quite easy for cats to get worms.
Internal parasites such as worms can be dangerous for a cat’s health, the cat’s human family and other animals. That’s why veterinary intervention is necessary, as soon as possible, for the best outcome.
This article is here to help you through the process of checking for worms, which starts with looking for signs of worms. Don’t worry, it’s not as gross or difficult as you may think.
The presence of worms may be indicated by:
- Symptoms
- Actual evidence
- Veterinary examinations and tests
SYMPTOMS
ACTUAL EVIDENCE
- One can check for eggs and worms in faeces and vomit: wear disposable gloves; use a stick
- You won’t see roundworm eggs, but you may see a roundworm that resembles spaghetti
- You usually won’t see hookworm eggs or the actual worm as even adult worms are super small
- Tapeworms (flat, off-white worms up to 60 cm in length) have eggs that look like sesame or cucumber seeds; they may sit on the surface of stool or on the cats anus/surrounding fur
- You may also want to examine your cat’s resting areas for eggs
TESTING
If you don’t want to look for evidence, which is completely understandable, you can schedule a veterinary check-up. You may, however, be asked to bring a stool sample anyway.
Wear disposable gloves when collecting a sample in a container and store it somewhere dark and cool. Keep it as far away from food and people as possible and wash your hands after collecting and storing the sample.
A veterinarian will typically use a microscope to see what you’re dealing with. It’s also important to communicate any signs or symptoms of worms you’ve noticed. If your cat has worms, the veterinarian will prescribe medication.
It’s usually very easy to treat worms. Once your veterinarian has identified the specific culprit, you can administer the right worming medication to get rid of that type of worm. Moving forward, you can consider broad spectrum medication that can function as both a preventative solution and cure for various internal parasites.
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