Your gorgeous cat Ace can really strut his stuff. He parades through the house, tail in the air as he surveys his domain, with obvious disdain as he passes your dog Charlie in the hall. Unfortunately, Ace’s superiority complex can’t protect him from those nasty internal parasites that periodically take up residence in his gastrointestinal tract. In fact, Ace’s symptoms tell you that he might be experiencing another episode. It’s time to make an appointment with your Millsap veterinarian, who can diagnose Ace’s ailment and give him some relief.

Roundworms and Hookworms

You really don’t want to see curled-up spaghetti-shaped bits in Ace’s litter box leavings. This probably means he has roundworms, which can grow to be several inches long. He likely contracted this parasite by eating an infected cat’s poop or snacking on an infected mouse. Hookworms look like roundworms, but are smaller. These evil little creatures feed on blood in Ace’s small intestine, and can sometimes lead to severe anemia. Hookworm larvae often live in soil, especially in humid, warm environments.

Microscopic Protozoans

Miniscule gut protozoans such as giardia and coccidia can make Ace’s life miserable. You might have heard that you can contract giardia by handling Ace’s infected feces. You can greatly reduce that risk by wearing good protective gloves for your litter box duties.

Tapeworms and Whipworms

If you see little rice-shaped bits in Ace’s poops, chances are he’s contracted tapeworms, acquired by swallowing an infected flea while grooming himself. He might also encounter whip-shaped whipworms, although this parasite is relatively uncommon in cats.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Your Millsap vet and his staff are patient poop analysis experts. They’ll mix a small amount of Ace’s feces with a special solution that makes parasitic eggs more visible. Once your vet pinpoints the parasite living in Ace’s gut, he’ll prescribe the correct dewormer to eradicate the culprit. Since each dewormer is tailored to one specific parasite, make sure your vet spearheads this diagnosis and treatment effort.

Risk Reduction

Since fleas transmit parasites, it’s important that you eliminate the fleas from your pets, home, and yard. Your vet can advise you on safe, effective flea control products. Keeping Ace indoors will minimize his chances of contact with infected fleas, mice, and other animals’ feces. Finally, your vet can place Ace and your other household pets on a top-notch parasite prevention program.
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