Tapeworms, one of the most notorious parasites in cats, are often talked about with horror. Yes, the parasite does have its scary aspects, not to mention its disgusting appearance and the effort it takes to get it out of the cat once it is parasitized. And perhaps the most worrying part is that the parasite can be transmitted to humans. So, how much do you know about tapeworms? Are tapeworms really dangerous? Today we will give you some basic knowledge about tapeworms. Types of tapeworm infection in cats For cats, the tapeworms that can be parasitized in cats are divided into two categories 1. Canine compound tapeworm. This tapeworm is the most common tapeworm in cats, and they have a flattened body that can reach 20 inches in length, with a body made up of 120 body segments in a chain. These tapeworms usually attach themselves to the intestinal wall of the cat and when the body segments mature, they are shed from the body and then pass through the intestines into the feces. This is why you may be able to find moving white debris in your cat’s anus or where your cat sleeps. However, this tapeworm is not highly contagious because the eggs will only be in the cat’s feces and will not be transmitted through the cat’s body or saliva. Also this tapeworm is less harmful to cats. The common symptoms in cats are usually loss of appetite, diarrhea, white spots at the anus, etc. 2. Fine grain echinococcus tapeworm. Because this tapeworm is more contagious, so once the cat is infected, it is a more serious matter. Thankfully, it is generally difficult for indoor cats to be parasitized by this tapeworm. Once infected with the eggs of this tapeworm, their larvae will spread throughout the body and eventually parasitize internal organs such as the brain, liver and lungs, commonly known as encystment. If cats are parasitized by this tapeworm, the eggs of this tapeworm may be present in their range of activity, so this tapeworm is highly contagious. Sources of tapeworms in cats The sources of tapeworms in cats are generally divided into three kinds 1. fleas. This is the most common source. If a cat accidentally eats fleas containing tapeworm eggs when licking its fur, the tapeworm eggs will hatch in the cat’s intestines. 2. Predation on wild animals. Wild animals are also intermediate hosts for tapeworms, such as rats and frogs. 3. Raw meat. Some people have the habit of feeding raw meat, and if the raw meat is not handled thoroughly, it will result in the eggs not being killed and eventually entering the cat’s body. So this is one of the reasons why feeding raw meat is not advocated. How to determine if your cat is infected with tapeworms First, we can determine if your cat is infected with fleas. You can turn over the cat’s back fur and observe if there are any black dots in the cat’s fur. If there are, you can basically determine that the cat is infected with fleas, and cats infected with fleas need to be dewormed both internally and externally in a timely manner. Next, observe the cat’s anus, poo and the place where it often sleeps for white debris. If there is, it is likely to be a tapeworm nodule. Finally, observe the cat’s vomit. If the cat is parasitized by tapeworms, the vomit may also contain tapeworms. So you can observe the cat’s vomit for flat, wriggling material. If there is, you can basically be sure that the cat is infected with tapeworms. The best way to prevent tapeworm infection in cats by far is to deworm regularly. Some people may ask, can cats get fleas even if they don’t go outside? The answer is yes, because even if the cat does not go outside, we may bring fleas indoors. If you also have a dog, the probability of bringing fleas indoors is even greater. It is also important to try to avoid cats ingesting food that may contain tapeworm eggs, such as raw meat, mice and other wild animals. Treatment Once a cat is determined to be infected with tapeworms, timely deworming can treat it. Therefore, tapeworms are relatively well treated and the common deworming medications available on the market can achieve good results. When feeding deworming medication, the dosage and method of use should be strictly followed, otherwise the deworming medication should not be used to its best effect. In addition, even if the cat is dewormed to destroy the tapeworm in its body in time, if there are still fleas in the environment, the cat is likely to be infected again. Therefore, the treatment of tapeworms in cats should be both internal and external, not only internal deworming but also external deworming, as well as eliminating fleas in the environment. This will completely eliminate the source of tapeworms. Pay attention to timely detection, timely treatment and good prevention, tapeworm in cats is nothing to be afraid of.
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