Unfortunately, no matter how hard the pet owners try, the risk of contracting a particular disease still remains. Let us dwell only on invasions in their body. The most common group of dangerous diseases include a variety of parasites in cats. Despite their small size, the accumulation of such organisms causes irreparable damage to the health of the animal, and sometimes leads to its death. The most common pathway for their distribution is through wool, feces, and food. Very often, parasites in a cat are transmitted from mother to kittens.
Types of parasites and symptoms of the disease
There are a huge variety of living organisms that parasitize on our favorite purrs. Which ones can infect any cat? They can be divided into 2 large groups: those located inside the body and living on its surface. The parasites in a cat that infect it from the inside are mainly
worms (helminths). Their main types: nematodes, roundworms, tapeworms, coccidia, hookworms. All of them affect the internal organs of cats and can be transmitted to humans.
Helminthic infestation is especially dangerous for children who simply love to squeeze and kiss pets. A timely diagnosis made by a veterinarian will quickly get rid of these parasites and prevent infection of all family members. That is why the owners should be very careful, monitoring the behavior and general condition of pets.
The main symptoms of helminthic invasion in a cat:
swollen belly, frequent and severe cough, diarrhea, increased appetite, dull eyes and coat, third-century visibility (blinking membrane). When
tapeworms are damaged , small segments resembling rice grains are observed at the anus. The defeat of coccidia is accompanied by weight loss, blood impregnations in the feces.
The most common external parasites: fleas, ticks, lice eaters, lichens. Nowadays, insects can be easily dealt with with the help of modern chemicals, but still, it is better to consult a veterinarian before using them. But a disease such as lichen is not so easy to cure on its own. At its first signs, it is necessary to immediately go to the hospital, since this disease easily affects people (especially children). The greatest danger is ringworm. After it appears on the head, the hair can no longer grow at the lesion sites.
The defeat of fleas, ticks and lice eaters is accompanied by itching, anxiety, dermatitis (eczema), granularity of the skin, detection of the insects themselves. Symptoms of ear mite lesions: shaking of the head, severe combing, trembling of the ears, tilting the head to the side, dark lumps of sulfur.
Treatment
All parasites in cats require some treatment. So, roundworms can be destroyed with the drug "piperazine". There are a huge number of other drugs that work on all types of worms. Popular antiparasitic drugs: Pratel, Drontal, Prozitsit, Milbemaks. Before taking the medicine, the veterinarian determines the dose necessary for each specific pet. It depends on the age, weight and size of the cat. To prevent re-infection, the drug is recommended to be given annually, even when there are no visible signs of this disease. Remedies for parasites for cats cannot be used if the animal suffers from another ailment, since the “gon” of worms in such a pet can end in his death.
External parasites in a cat are removed by combing the hair. Detected ticks are carefully removed with tweezers, being careful not to leave parts of it in the skin of the animal. When affected by fleas, ticks and lice eaters, antiparasitic drops are most often prescribed. Their validity period is not very long, which requires repeated re-treatment (especially in the warm season). External drops from parasites for cats: Advantage, Advocate, Bars, Rexolin, Front Line. All of them are applied to the withers of the animal. After this procedure, the pet can not be bathed for several days.