Your cat is a loving and valued companion. However, your cat may be living with an intestinal parasite called a tapeworm without you ever being aware. Fortunately keeping your cat safe from tapeworm infection can be as simple regular hygiene, flea prevention and, when necessary, a tablet that can kill the tapeworm. Tapeworms are parasites with a hooked mouth that lodge along the wall of a cat’s (or dog’s) intestines. There, the tapeworm grows and can reach up to eight inches long. As it grows, parts of the tapeworm break off. These segments can be seen in the cat’s stool and are often the only clues that an owner may have that their cat is infected. Cats become infected with tapeworms only through coming in contact with a host. Most of the time, fleas are the host for tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum), although birds, mice and rabbits also carry another type of tapeworm (Taenia) that affects cats. Most often, the cat is bitten by a flea and licks the area to alleviate itching. The cat then unintentionally swallows the flea which is acting as host to a tapeworm egg. When digestion starts, the tapeworm is set free to attach itself to the cat’s intestinal wall. This can happen if the cat’s bedding is soiled or if the cat lies outdoors in an area where fleas are present. Even if the owner never sees fleas on the cat, cats may eat fleas and get a tapeworm. Most of the time the owner has no idea that his/her cat is infected until they see the tapeworm segments in the cat’s feces. Tapeworm segments look like cucumber seeds or rice in the stool. Tapeworm treatment for cats will include de-worming medications which may be administered through injection or simple tablet form. The medication kills the tapeworm(s) which is then digested. Owners should not expect to see the dead tapeworm in the cat’s stool. Of course the best tapeworm treatment for cats is prevention. Flea control is also tapeworm control. Monthly flea prevention is a safe and effective way to safeguard cats from accidentally ingesting the most common type of tapeworm. If the cat lives in an environment where fleas are present or if the cat regularly eats birds and mice, then re-infection is a possibility. Only rarely will a tapeworm cause a cat to lose weight or become listless so owners must be vigilant about preventing fleas and keep an eye on the litter box. If owners see that their cat has a tapeworm, de-worming tablets should be given to the cat as soon as possible. Today, tapeworm treatment for cats does not necessarily mean a trip to the vet’s office.Veterinarian-strength medicine is now available over-the-counter. Companies like ProLabs makes a tapeworm tablet that safely and effectively deals with both types of tapeworms in cats and is simple to use.
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