tapeworms, 3rd time

cande

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My cat is taking Phenobarbital for seizures after a flea shampoo. Today I discover that he has tapeworms and this is the 3rd time. The vet told me last time that cats get tapeworms from fleas after they kill them with their mouth. I think the solution is to get rid of the fleas. I donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t know what to do since he gets seizures from a flea shampoo, I donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t know if to use Revolution. I would like to hear from you first before asking the vet?
 

leesali

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Flea medication & flea shampoo's are highly toxic...they are meant to kill fleas & please note the warnings to human contact on the bottles...not good!!

I swear by the herb "neem"...it is highly used in Auyervedic medicine and in my opinion, is truly a wonder herb!! All 12 of my resident cats get 2 capsules everyday in their food (I, too take 1 a day). Topically, you can purchase Neem shampoo and spray (as a preventative) for felines (and canines). Neem can also be purchased in the form of oil & cream...rub into fur for any skin/parasite/flea problems. It is all natural with zero side-effects.

As far as those nasty tapeworms...I have the same philosoply in killing those buggers!! Most medication is extremely toxic in order to kill the worms...I have had excellent success with GSE -- grapefruit seed extract. It kills everything but your beloved animal
Garlic is another solution for worms...also natural with zero side-effects.

If you would like, I will post links for the above...otherwise, do a quick search and you will exactly what I am referring to.
 

tru

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The vet would be the best one to advise you on whether to use Revolution, Advantage or Frontline. The vet would also be the place where you would get your flea treatment.

The above mentioned spot-ons are entirely different than the products used for shampoo, flea collars and any Over The Counter applications.
Over the Counter flea treatments can be quite dangerous to a cat as they often have ingredients that are toxic to cats. I know you have already found this out and I'm very sorry for that.

I'd suggest taking your cat to the vet and have the vet apply the flea medication, then you remain there for a short time to watch for any reaction. That will solve your flea problem in a place where your cat can be administered to if there should be a reaction.

If you are having a flea problem in your environment then there are helpful products that you can use that will not be toxic to your cat or humans. If so, then either search the forums or just start another thread and you will get many replies to guide you.

I hope you and your fur-baby get through this problem free.
 
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cande

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Thank you so much for the comments.


Leesali could you please post those links.
 

tru

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Originally Posted by leesali

As far as those nasty tapeworms...I have the same philosoply in killing those buggers!! Most medication is extremely toxic in order to kill the worms...I have had excellent success with GSE -- grapefruit seed extract. It kills everything but your beloved animal
Garlic is another solution for worms...also natural with zero side-effects.
If you would like, I will post links for the above...otherwise, do a quick search and you will exactly what I am referring to.
If you do a search on garlic in cats, you will find that since garlic is of the same family as onions it could possibly accumulate in the cats system and cause anemia. For this reason, many people avoid the use of garlic with cats.
 
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cande

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Thank you Tru, I just read that, i knew but i forgot. The strange thing is that I bought some vitamins for my cat from the vet and it has garlic, he is not taking them.
 
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cande

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By the way, I bought the flea shampoo from the vet, the one that cause my cat to get seizures.
 

sicycat

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Flea shampoos, collars, etc are horrible. I would try the Advantage or Frontline. They have been known to be MUCH safer. You have to get rid of the fleas in order to keep the tapeworms away.
 

yosemite

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My suggestion is to get Advantage, Frontline or Revolution from your vet. We use Revolution.

Use of these products should preclude any reason whatsoever to bathe your cat with a flea shampoo. Because these treatments work for a period of time (usually applied monthly), they will continue to kill any fleas left around the home area when they jump on your pet.

Do NOT feed garlic to your cat. It can be harmful. If your vet gave you this shampoo instead of one of the above treatments, I would consider finding a new vet.

On the subject of herbal remedies, I may be off course, but I believe that if you are going to use ANY herbal remedies you should do your homework first and find out exactly what to use and how to use it properly from reliable sources. There are folks using herbal remedies with traditional drugs and causing lots of problems. Just because something is herbal or natural doesn't mean it is safe.
 

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Herbal Meds should ONLY BE USED under DIRECT VET SUPERVISION
 
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cande

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Thank you so much for the comments. Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ll talk to the vet. I need to think about it because his old vet still sells the shampoos that cause my cat to have seizures. It could mean my cat might be allergic to some drugs uses for fleas.
 

leesali

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Link to Neem shampoo for animals: http://www.bytheplanet.com/Neem/Cata...logpetcare.htm

"Garlic: a natural antibiotic & aids in digestioin. Added in its natural form-cloves of bulb--to food cooked for pets & urge clients to do the same. It is rich in vitamins (A, B complex & C), proteins, and trace minerals & excellent antibacterial agent & antiodioxant. It may also boost liver function & prevent heart disease, cancer & other degenerative diseases. I also use Kyolic--aged garlic. In its liquid form, I've used it for resistant parasite problems and nonresponsive ear infections." Martin Goldstein, D.V.M.

Personally, I have been using garlic in all 12 of my resident crew's food for years with ZERO ill-effects.
 

yosemite

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Originally Posted by Cande

Thank you so much for the comments. I’ll talk to the vet. I need to think about it because his old vet still sells the shampoos that cause my cat to have seizures. It could mean my cat might be allergic to some drugs uses for fleas.
Your vet may not be up-to-date on new treatments by the sounds of it. I don't believe vets nowadays recommend flea baths. Flea products sold over-the-counter and on the internet are not recommended. They are usually ineffective and can actually cause harm rather than help so they are essentially a waste of money.

As for the garlic, it's not recommended by most of the knowledgeable persons on this site and I trust them more than some information that's out there on the internet. The "old-timers" on this site have considerable knowledge and often know more than most vets about health and nutrition, especially nutrition. Vets generally don't get a great deal of learning/training in nutrition so be well-versed and do your homework before just taking a vet's word about nutrition at least. I don't profess to know more than they do medically, but even then, you know your cat better than anyone, so if you have any hesitation or don't feel comfortable with a vet's diagnosis - ask questions, get informed.

Sharky is very informed and gives excellent information.
 
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cande

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Thank you everyone for the comments, we have an appointment with the vet at 3:30 for the tapeworms. I will ask her about Revolution and God help us. I hope Andy is not allergic.
 
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cande

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Yesterday we went to the vet. Andy got a shot for the worms and Revolution. We stayed there for a while to see if he had a reaction. Until now he looks fine, playing and eating. Thank you everyone for your comments.
 

yosemite

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Originally Posted by Cande

Yesterday we went to the vet. Andy got a shot for the worms and Revolution. We stayed there for a while to see if he had a reaction. Until now he looks fine, playing and eating. Thank you everyone for your comments.
Excellent news! Keep us posted on how he is doing.
 
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