Deworming

Let’s face it, worms are disgusting! When it comes to keeping your cat parasite free, prevention is the best medicine. Keeping your cat parasite free is important for their overall health and yours too. Some intestinal worms can be spread to humans and although we like to cuddle with our cats, we do not want to cuddle with worms. Your cat’s lifestyle will determine how often dewormer is given and what type of dewormer is best for your cat. Please contact Lomsnes Veterinary Hospital for a dewormer. Over the counter, products are not considered safe for cats and have been known to cause seizures and liver failure.

What are some internal cat parasites?

The most common internal cat parasites include roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms. If your cat has internal parasites you may notice them in their stool or their vomit. Contact Lomsnes Veterinary Hospital if you have any questions regarding internal parasites for your cat.

What are worm infestation symptoms in cats?

Our goal is to keep your cat dewormed regularly before they have a worm infestation. Symptoms of a worm infestation may include a decreased energy level, weight loss, bloating, diarrhea, passing worms in their stool, or vomiting up the worms. Often there may be no symptoms to tell you that your cat has worms- just because you can’t see them doesn’t mean they don’t exist! If you have questions about deworming your cat contact Lomsnes Veterinary Hospital.

Do worms affect humans?

Yes, this is why prevention is the best medicine and deworming your cats regularly is very important! To prevent yourself from getting worms always wash your hands and keep the litter box clean.

What is the deworming schedule?

Your cat’s deworming schedule depends on their lifestyle. Kittens are dewormed every two weeks between 8 and 16 weeks of age and adult cats are dewormed monthly to annually depending on their lifestyle. Dewormer is something that is discussed at your cat’s yearly wellness exam and a deworming schedule will be decided based on your cat’s individual lifestyle.

Are there any deworming medication side effects?

Dewormers prescribed by one of our veterinarians are very safe and there are minimal to no side effects. We recommend oral dewormer be given with food so that it is less likely that your cat will experience an upset stomach from the medication. Topical dewormers should be applied directly onto the skin in an area where it cannot be licked off, usually between the shoulder blades. If you give your cat a dewormer and they vomit, have diarrhea, or a skin reaction, please contact Lomsnes Veterinary Hospital.