Are You Worried About Your Cat’s Tapeworm Infection?

How to prevent tapeworm infection in cats

Cats get infected with a variety of external and internal parasites. One such internal parasite felines frequently contract is tapeworms. This infection is very common in cats and it can easily be transmitted to other animals as well as humans. As a caring cat parent, you should always be vigilant and do what it takes to protect your furry companions against them. In order to secure our cats against this endoparasite, it is necessary to develop a basic understanding of what these parasites are all about?

What are Tapeworms?

Tapeworms are small, white in color, flat, and 8 to 20 inches long worms that are often found in cats’ small intestines. These parasites feed on the food a cat eats. Tapeworms break into small segments known as proglottids when they reproduce and attach themselves to the gut.

How do cats get tapeworms?

Tapeworm_Symptoms_in_Cats

Moreover, kittens get tapeworms from their infected mother cat.

Signs of Tapeworm Infection In Cats

  • Weight loss, diarrhea, and/or vomiting
  • Licking, biting, and/or scratching the area around the anus
  • Proglottids (rice-like segments) in stool
  • Dry/dull coat and itching

The Diagnosis

Tapeworms are detected with naked eyes when they are crawling around the cat’s anus or in the cat’s feces. Other than this, your veterinarian can determine the tapeworm infection with a routine microscopic fecal examination.

Treatment of tapeworm infection

The treatment of tapeworm infection in cats is not so complicated. Once the infestation is confirmed, your veterinarian can curb the infection with a simple de-wormer. This deworming treatment dissolves tapeworms in the intestines and this is why they are not detectable in cat’s stool.

The most efficient drug that treats tapeworm infection in cats is praziquantel, and it is available in both topical as well as oral forms. CanadaVetExpress brings an exclusive range of top vet-recommended tapeworm treatments from leading manufacturers at very affordable prices.

Check the list mentioned below to choose the one that suits your cat:

Top Vet-Recommended-Tapeworm-Products

1. Milbemax

From the house of Elanco, Milbemax is an oral treatment that comprises milbemycin oxime and praziquantel. The formula protects cats against a variety of worms including heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms.

2. Drontal

Made of praziquantel and pyrantel, Drontal for cats is an oral de-wormer for cats. It is manufactured by Bayer and provides protection against tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms.

3. Profender

Manufactured by Bayer, Profender for cats is a topical worming treatment for cats. It contains emodepside and praziquantel as active ingredients that shield cats against all major intestinal worms such as tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms.

4. Mediworm

Mediworm for cats is a broad-spectrum catnip flavored tablet that provides 100% efficacy against tapeworms, hookworms, and roundworms. The product is made by Medpet and contains praziquantel, pyrantel, and catnip flavoring.

5. Droncit Spot-on

Droncit topical is a Bayer-made tapeworm treatment for cats. The spot-on formula comprises praziquantel and protects felines against all tapeworm infections.

6. Triworm C

Made by Cipla Vet, Triworm C contains praziquantel and pyrantel as active ingredients. The oral treatment protects cats against ascarids, hookworms, and tapeworm infections.

7. Paragard All wormer

Paragard worming tablets for cats are manufactured by Merial/ Boehringer Ingelheim. The oral dewormer comprises of praziquantel and oxibendazole. It protects cats against roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms.

8. Cazitel

Cazitel for cats is a meat-flavored oral tablet for cats that provides protection against gastrointestinal roundworms and tapeworms. The oral formula contains praziquantel and pyrantel as active components and is made by Zoetis Animal Health.

9. Popantel All wormer

Popantel for cats is a Jurox-made worming tablet for cats. It contains pyrantel and praziquantel as the active ingredients and provides protection against intestinal worms such as tapeworms, hookworms, and roundworms.

10. Antezole Paste

Antezole paste is made of three active components; pyrantel, praziquantel, and fenbendazole. Made by Kyron Labs, Antezole paste protects cats against ascarids, tapeworms, and hookworms.

11. Droncit Tapeworm

Made by Bayer, Droncit tapeworms for cats is an oral treatment for tapeworm infections. The tablet contains praziquantel as an active component.

Prevention of Tapeworms

  • The first step toward protecting cats against tapeworm infection is to stop cats from getting the infection in the first place.
  • Use effective flea treatments to control the flea population and save felines from contracting flea tapeworms.
  • Cats that frequently go outside should go through laboratory testing regardless of the presence of any clinical symptoms.
  • Maintain proper hygiene in and around your cat. Dispose or conceal the feces in recyclable plastic bags or in the trash.

Conclusion

Feline tapeworm infection is common, easy to cure, and rarely causes any harm to your cat. The best way to deal with such an infection is to be watchful and monitor your four-legged friend’s behavior. Also, consult a vet soon as you see any change in the way they act.