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Cat
Fleas:
Fleas are wingless,
hard bodied, blood sucking ectoparasites. They belong to the insect
family known as Siphonaptera, which means "wingless siphon".
Signs your cat has
fleas include; scratching & biting at the fur is a good indicator your
cat has fleas, although cats scratch & bite for reasons other than
fleas. Upon close inspection of the fur & skin, you can usually see
fleas on your cat, they are small dark brown insects. It is easier to
see fleas if you have a light coloured cat. You may also notice flea
droppings on your cat's bedding.
You must treat both the
cat & the environment if you are to overcome fleas. Fleas on your cat
are the tip of the iceberg.
Below is a percentage
of the flea population in the environment:
5% of adult fleas live
on your cat.
10% are pupae
35% are larvae
50% are eggs
Ways to treat your cat
include collars, sprays, dips, powders, oral suspensions, spot on
treatments. You will need to use IGR's (insect growth regulators) to
treat your home.
More on cat fleas
Ear
mites:
Ear mites are a common
spider like external parasite which causes significant discomfort to the
cat. Although the name would suggest otherwise, ear mites can live on
any part of the body although they generally live in the ears of cats.
They are the most common cause of otitis externa (inflammation of the
outer ear canal) in cats.
Not all cats will
display symptoms of ear mites but often they will scratch at their ears
& or shake their heads. Other symptoms may include reddish/brown
discharge in the ear, bleeding from the ear, coffee-grounds like
appearance in the ear, scratch marks, odour.
Treatment depends on
how severe the problem is. Removal of the exudates from the ear by
instilling a few drops of mineral oil & gently massaging the base of the
ear. This will loosen the exudate, which will make it easy to remove.
More on ear
mites
Heartworm:
Caused
by Dirofilara immitis, heartworms are a potentially fatal parasitic worm
living in the pulmonary arteries, lungs & hearts of cats. Heartworms are
nematodes, a type of roundworm, they are several inches long, thin &
white.
Symptoms of heartworm include; coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing,
anorexia, vomiting, lethargy, weight loss, some cats show no signs at
all but die suddenly.
There
are no approved methods to treat heartworm in cats. The treatments which
are available are themselves dangerous. A single dead worm can be fatal
in cats as it can break away & cause a blockage of the pulmonary artery
(pulmonary embolism.
If
there are no clinical symptoms your vet may decide not to treat the cat
& wait for it to clear the parasite in it's own time. As stated earlier,
heartworms live for around 2-3 years in cats. If this is the chosen
method, your veterinarian will want to monitor your cat every 6-12
months for signs of complications.
If the
cat is displaying symptoms of heartworm disease supportive therapy may
be recommended. Prednisone may be given to the cat to reduce the
inflammation & reaction to the worm.
Cats
with severe symptoms may require additional supportive therapy such as a
bronchodilator to open the airways, oxygen therapy & intravenous fluids.
Adulticide treatment may be recommended for cats with clinical signs who
are not responding to supportive care. Caparsolate is the drug used &
kills the adult worms. This carries risks, as a dead worm can result in
a pulmonary embolism. Around 1/3rd of cats receiving treatment will face
life threatening complications as a result of the dying worms.
Confinement will be necessary for a few weeks after treatment. Either
way, if you choose to let nature take it's course & hope that the worm
lives out it's lifespan within the cat, or if you use an adulticide
there are risks. These must be weighed up by your veterinarian before a
decision is made. Surgical removal of the worms has been used in some
cases.
More on
heartworm
Hookworms:
Hookworms are a common intestinal parasitic worm found in dogs & cats.
They are less common in cats than they are in dogs. They live in the
intestine of the host it infects. Hookworms have teeth like mouth parts
which they use to attach themselves to the intestinal wall & feed off
the host's blood.
Symptoms include;
-
When
they suck blood from their host, they release an anti-coagulant (a
substance which prevents the blood from clotting). This results in
black or bloody stools.
-
Anaemia (weakness, pale gums)
-
Dull
coat
-
In
kittens, stunted growth
There
are many effective medications to treat hookworms. Your veterinarian
will be able to recommend an effective product.
Most
worming medications come in two forms, either topical which is applied
to the skin on the back of the neck, or tablet form.
More on
hookworms
Paralysis ticks:
Ticks
are bloodsucking ectoparasites. They on the east coast of Australia from
North Queensland to Northern Victoria. The tick attaches to the cat &
borrows it's mouthparts into the skin. It sucks the blood & injects a
neurotoxin called Holocyclotoxin, which causes paralysis.
Some or
all of these symptoms may be present;
Limb
weakness, starting in the hindlegs, progressing to the front legs,
appearing wobbly & uncoordinated, falling over, paralysis.
Vomiting or dry retching, excessive salivation, difficulty swallowing,
difficulty breathing, coughing. Urinary incontinence.
Your
pet will almost certainly be hospitalised. It will be given antiserum.
Treatment depends on the severity of the symptoms, and is different from
case to case. The greater the severity, the more care the animal will
need & mortality rate increases, which is why it's so important to seek
veterinary care as soon as you suspect tick poisoning. Symptoms may
include pneumonia, high blood pressure, heart problems, vomiting &
respiratory difficulties.
If it
is having difficulty breathing, it may be given oxygen. It may also be
put on a drip to prevent dehydration.
More on paralysis ticks
Roundworms:
Roundworms (Ascarids) are a common intestinal parasitic worm found in
many species. There are two species which affect cats, Toxocara cati and
Toxascaris leonina. Toxocara cati is more commonly found in cats. They
feed upon the intestinal contents, competing with the host for food.
Symptoms of roundworms include; poor coat condition, diarrhea, vomiting,
pot bellied appearance, severe cases can lead to pneumonia & intestinal
& bowel blockage.
There
are many effective medications to treat roundworms.
More on
roundworms
Tapeworm:
Tapeworms are a highly specialised intestinal parasite known as
Cestodes. Tapeworms need two hosts, the intermediate host which passes
the cysticercoid around & the final host (your pet), where it develops
into an adult tapeworm & lays it's eggs. Dipylidium canium is the most
common tapeworm in cats followed by Taenia taeniaeformis. Tapeworms are
hermaphroditic, which means they contain both ovaries & testes & are
capable of reproducing on their own. They have a head (scolex), a neck &
a segmented body (the segments are known as proglottids). They are
whitish/cream in colour with a ribbon like appearance, and can grow to
15 - 60 cms in length.
The
presence of rice like segments (proglottids) around your cat's anus & in
the environment is a sign your pet has tapeworm.
Your
veterinarian will be able to provide you with a effective deworming
medication which will kill the tapeworm(s). Once they have died, they
will be digested along with the cat's food.
More on
tapeworm
Related articles:
Common Diseases in Cats:
Common Skin Disorders in Cats:
Please note:
The medical
articles on this site have not been written by a
veterinarian & should not be considered a replacement for a
veterinarian visit. The articles are provided for
informative purposes only.
Always seek
immediate veterinary advice for any problems (health or
behavioral) in your pets.
While great
care has been made in the creation of these articles, we
cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages.
If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical
advice. |
