No matter how much you adore your cat, chances are that you aren’t in love with some of the hitchhikers that can come along with them. Parasite prevention is an important part of pet ownership, and Parkside Animal Hospital is your partner in keeping your furry friends free of intestinal parasites and other pesky and unwanted guests.

Intestinal Parasites in Cats

All pet owners need to be aware of the risk of intestinal parasites in the animals that share their home. Some of the parasites are worms in the traditional sense, while others are single-celled organisms that can only be seen under a microscope.

There are a few good reasons to want to be sure that your pet does not have parasites. Pets who are infected with intestinal parasites may have trouble maintaining a healthy weight, experience gastrointestinal issues, have an unhealthy looking coat, and be at risk for complications like anemia and internal organ damage. Some intestinal parasites in pets are also zoonotic ( transmissible to people).

Common intestinal parasites that affect our pets include:

• Roundworms — Roundworms are intestinal parasites that resemble spaghetti when they are mature. They are common parasites, often found in kittens. Some pets with roundworms may experience vomiting or diarrhea.
• Hookworms — Hookworms are also common, but are not visible to our naked eyes. These tiny, thread-like intestinal parasites hook onto the insides of the small intestines, and feed on blood.
• Tapeworms —Tapeworms are often identified as small, rice-like segments attached to the fur around the rectum, or sometimes in the stool. These are little parts of a larger tapeworm that lives in the pet’s intestine. Pets can acquire a tapeworm from fleas or ingesting other organisms such as small rodents.
• Coccidia — These microscopic parasites are not a worm, but a single-celled organism that can cause diarrhea, often with blood, and/or vomiting.
• Giardia — Giardia is another single-celled organism that lives in a pet’s intestine. It is often transmitted through contaminated water, and may cause chronic diarrhea.
• Toxoplasmosis — Toxoplasma is a single-celled protozoan infection that is shed in feline feces, and can infect humans.

A Note About Feline Heartworm Disease

Heartworms are caused by the parasitic organism Dirofilaria immitis, a worm that makes its home in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels of its host. Infection with this parasite can cause severe lung disease and heart failure in the infected animal.

Heartworms are transmitted through the mosquito. We often think of heartworm disease as a dog problem, but it can affect cats as well.

In cats, it can be very difficult to detect due to lower worm numbers, and may not be symptomatic until serious disease or even death occurs.

Even more distressing is the fact that heartworm disease in cats has no cure, which gives any kitty with this diagnosis a very poor prognosis.

Thankfully, feline heartworm disease is very preventable with several options that provide very effective protection. Contact us for recommendations.

A Good Parasite Prevention Program

Preventing intestinal parasites and heartworm disease in our cats is part of good wellness care.

Routine parasite preventives, such as those found in many monthly flea, tick, and heartworm preventives. are an important tool to protect your family. Our staff can help recommend a personalized parasite prevention strategy for your family’s needs based on your pet’s environment and risks.