Cats may suffer from different intestinal parasites such as the tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms or whipworms. Tapeworm medicine treatment is different from other parasite treatments, and is actually easier due to the different life cycle of this worm.
Types of Tapeworms
Tapeworms may be of several types according to the animal that is the carrier and transmitter of these.
Taenia taeniaeformis is a widespread tapeworm and may be transmitted from mice. The broad tapeworm, also known as Diphyllobothrium latum, can be found in raw fish and the cat may get this if eating the fish. Fleas spread the tapeworm known as dipylidium caninum or d. caninum. The tapeworms are long. The taeniaeformis may be up to 60 cm long and will live in the small intestine of the cat.
Symptoms of Tapeworms
Tapeworms don't always cause symptoms in the infected pet. However, the cat may display increased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, irritability and coarse coat and fur. Even if the cat eats more, he will lose weight and have anemia in severe cases, because the tapeworm eats his nutrients.
You may notice segments of the worm in your pet's feces, vomit or sometimes coming out of the cat's mouth or rectum.
A tapeworm may survive in the cat's intestine for up to 2 years if the condition is left untreated.
Tapeworm Medicine
Usually, worms and parasites are treated with dewormers.
Cestex is an efficient dewormer both for cats and dogs. Cestex is administrated orally and has no side effects.
Other tapeworm medications include: praziquantel (i.e Tradewinds tapeworm tabs), niclosamiden and mebendazole.
Make sure to administer the tapeworm tabs following your veterinary's prescription so as not to cause allergic reactions in your pet.
Tapeworm Medicine Dosage
Unlike the treatment for other parasites and worms, the treatment for the tapeworm will consist of only one dosage. This is enough to disolve the worm and the cat will eliminate it in the following days. However, you won't be able to see the worm in the feces, as there are only microscopic particles.
Only one dose of dewormer is needed because of the different life cycle of the tapeworm. The worm does not have external larvae, so a second or third treatment will not be required.
The tapeworm medication will destroy the coating of the worm. That's the only one offering protection for the worm and its eggs.
In rare cases, the vet might prescribe a second dosage of dewormer, usually when the cat is also infected with fleas or lives in an environment with other infected pets.
Preventing Tapeworms
Tapeworms are spread through fleas or from other pets such as dogs, mice or rabbits. Proper hygiene can prevent the occurrence of the tapeworms or other parasites in your cat. Don't feed your cat uncooked fish, as this may be a source of infestation too. You can give your cat prevention tapeworm medicine to avoid future infestation.