One of the most common parasitic diseases in cats is giardiasis. It is caused by the simplest microorganisms Lamblia intestinalis. Infection of an animal can occur in different ways. But lamblia in cats always become a cause of weakening of the body and a decrease in immunity. And because of this, various serious diseases can develop in a pet. Giardiasis itself can also be considered dangerous for cats. The result of the vital activity of microorganisms is the intoxication of the animal organism.
Symptoms of the disease
The cat should be treated immediately after the first signs of giardiasis are detected. The animal must be shown to the veterinarian. The specialist will select the most suitable drugs in this particular case and prescribe the most effective therapy.
In the presence of giardia in cats, her symptoms are most likely to manifest such:
Giardia, like any other parasites, can poison a cat's body. Due to the weakened immunity in animals, allergic reactions often occur.
Sometimes, against the background of giardiasis in cats, the pancreatic ducts become clogged. In this case, a pet, among other things, can also develop pancreatitis. The nature of the infected animal changes. Prior to this, the active cat becomes lethargic and sleepy, often in a bad mood.
The main symptom
The parasites living in his body can, of course, have a serious effect on the condition of the animal. However, it is most accurate at home to determine giardiasis in a cat, of course, by the presence or absence of cysts in the feces. The sizes of these parasites are not too large. Moreover, they do not come out with every portion of feces. But you can still see them if you want in the cat’s tray.
What do parasites look like?
Giardiasis-causing parasite Lamblia intestinalis is pear-shaped. In the lower part of the trunk, microorganisms have special suction cups, with the help of which they are fixed on the walls of the intestines of animals. These parasites feed on particles of their host's food. Parasites multiply almost instantly by division.
The parasite cysts are small and oval-pear-shaped. In the feces of a cat, they look like wrinkled red dots.
How are veterinarians diagnosed
The symptoms described above usually occur in an animal after the disease has reached advanced stages. That is, when a lot of parasites live in the cat’s body. In addition, such signs may be the result of some other pathology. In any case, the diagnosis of giardiasis is a very complicated procedure. It is unlikely that it will be possible to determine with accuracy this disease at home. In this case, only a veterinarian can make a correct and accurate diagnosis after laboratory tests.
In clinics for animal cats with signs of the development of giardiasis, of course, they primarily check for the presence of parasites in the body. For diagnosis, veterinarians use a smear analysis method or a flotation method.
At the same time, in order to detect giardia, specialists conduct an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunochromatographic test. The most accurate method for diagnosing giardiasis is a polymerase chain reaction.
Giardia in cats: how to treat
When treating parasitic diseases, doctors prescribe to cats in most cases anthelmintic agents. However, giardiasis cannot be cured with such drugs. After all, Giardia is not worms. Therefore, in this case, the animal is usually prescribed antibiotics. If a cat has giardia, it can be assigned, for example:
Ornidazole.
Nemozol.
Dirofen.
All these medicines are for people, and you can buy them at a regular pharmacy. And, of course, when giardia is detected in cats, treatment with animal preparations is carried out in reduced dosages. The specific amount of medicine in this case can only be determined by a veterinarian.
If giardia is detected in a cat, antibiotic treatment can be effective. But such funds are prescribed to cats, usually in combination with drugs designed to remove toxins from their body. Probiotics are also prescribed to the animal in most cases to improve intestinal microflora.
Important
It is impossible to treat a cat with giardiasis on its own in any case. Incorrect therapy in this case can even lead to the death of the animal. They treat giardia in cats using very strong drugs that can cause various kinds of serious side effects.
In addition, with complex treatment, it is important to choose drugs that combine well with each other. Of course, only a specialist can do this. Medicines for giardia in cats in most cases are also selected individually, depending on the degree of development of the disease, the weight of the animal, the state of its body, etc.
How does infection happen?
Giardia is a special type of parasite, which can be attributed neither to worms, nor to bacteria, nor to viruses. They are precisely a microorganism. Giardia can exist in two forms - as cysts and as trophozites. The first form of the parasite lives and multiplies in the intestines of the animal. Cysts exist mainly in the feces. Their feature is that they are able to survive in the environment for a long time.
Infection of a cat with giardiasis occurs orally. The cat collects cysts with its paws from the ground or from the tray, and licking them, becomes infected with parasites. Once in the intestines of the animal, the cyst very quickly turns into trophositis. Back to the cyst stage, the parasite passes immediately after it enters the cat’s small intestine into the large intestine.
In the cat's body, the parasite is fixed on the walls of the digestive organ and begins to feed and actively multiply. Most often, giardiasis, like any other parasitic disease, develops in pets with weakened, for example, after illness or as a result of improper care, immunity. But catch this infection can, of course, and completely healthy cat.
Giardia cysts can enter the body of an animal not only from the floor, from a tray or from the ground, but also from water or contaminated food. Also very often, pets are infected with these microorganisms on the street in contact with stray cats. Such animals with giardiasis are infected almost without exception.
Disease prevention
Thus, we found out how lamblia in a cat can appear. The symptoms and treatment of this parasitic disease have also been examined by us in detail. But, of course, like any other pathology, giardiasis is easier to prevent than to conduct complex therapy later.
Unfortunately, in the environment, cysts of Lamblia intestinalis are able to survive for a long time. Therefore, the main measure to prevent infection by them is to maintain cleanliness in the house. Also, prevention of the development of giardiasis in cats consists in the following measures:
washing hands after cleaning the tray;
the highest quality cleaning in the cat’s favorite places in the house;
timely disinfection of all surfaces and household items in the house;
timely processing of the dishes of the cat and its tray with boiling water.
To feed a cat for infection prevention is only high-quality mixtures from manufacturers with a good reputation. The animal needs to be given boiled water. Of course, before offering the animal, it should be cooled to room temperature. Giardia cysts are able to remain viable even in chlorinated water. That is, directly from the tap, a cat should not be given water to prevent infection.
Of course, in no case should an infected cat be allowed to go outside. A special place should be reserved for feeding the animal. If you find giardia in a cat, you should use purchased products as a filler for its tray. Sand should be discarded during illness.
The infected cat must be isolated from other pets in the apartment. Otherwise, then you will have to treat all your four-legged friends. Giardia is capable of affecting not only cats, but also dogs, hamsters, rats, pigs, rabbits, etc. Even parakeets and canaries can become infected with these parasites.
Sometimes people bring homeless kittens into the house to feed them and attach them in good hands. This is, of course, a noble, necessary and useful thing. However, if the house already contains a cat, it is not worth letting a homeless kitten into it. It is better to close the foundling in a separate room and quarantine it for at least two weeks, observing its behavior and health.
Is it possible to catch giardia from a cat
Infection of people from animals with giardiasis, fortunately, is quite rare. Different types of this parasite parasitize in the intestines of humans and cats. However, scientists, unfortunately, do not exclude the possibility of infection with a feline form of human giardia. Particularly cautious in this case should be people with a weakened immune system.