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Tapeworm???

post #1 of 9
8/1/10 at 10:16am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by sharky View Post
Please make an appt soon with the vet... Most of the time this is a minor to moderate ailment but like many things it can vary on the animal
I've seen a few cream colored bits (eggs?) on one of my cats recently as well and will be trying to get a stool sample for the vet tomorrow. Advantage (if I recall that was the prescription) has worked well once before when this flared up because it is is effective against both fleas and tapeworms. But these are almost like specks and last time it was a clear rice-length segment ???

No white wormlike things moving around the rectum, in her bedding, litter or in the environment, etc either. No scratching or degradation in the world's softest, silkiest fur. And although it could explain her increased appetite recently this kitty is actually gaining a slight amount of weight.


Our winters are quite harsh in North Indiana, so I'm hoping in a few months the fleas in my apartment from pets are not going to hibernate but just going to die and be gone forever....
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post #2 of 9
8/1/10 at 1:58pm
Advantage works against roundworms and hookworms, not tapeworms. If she has tapeworms she needs to see the vet to get medication for the tapeworms.

Taryn
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post #3 of 9
8/1/10 at 7:19pm
Please take the cat into the vet .... Did you get the advantage from your vet?
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post #4 of 9
8/1/10 at 9:00pm
We just went through this with Tumbleweed. Tapeworms do NOT show up on a fecal float, so you need to specifically tell your vet, "I saw a worm hanging out his/her bum." or "I have seen white, rice looking things on the bedding or fur near the rectum." Also, tapeworms just don't "go away" when you treat your animal for fleas. Tapeworms live inside the animal and shed the egg casings, which are the white things you see. So, you MUST get meds specifically for the tapeworm and take your animal to the vet.
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post #5 of 9
8/2/10 at 5:33am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by stephanietx View Post
We just went through this with Tumbleweed. Tapeworms do NOT show up on a fecal float, so you need to specifically tell your vet, "I saw a worm hanging out his/her bum." or "I have seen white, rice looking things on the bedding or fur near the rectum." Also, tapeworms just don't "go away" when you treat your animal for fleas. Tapeworms live inside the animal and shed the egg casings, which are the white things you see. So, you MUST get meds specifically for the tapeworm and take your animal to the vet.
OK, thanks. These aren't rice-sized white but more like 2 mm cream colored specks. I just spoke with the vet receptionist, though, and she said that the change in color could be a drying effect. Only it is still slightly moist. So this could be something else altogether....

They are way too small to be easily transferred but I suppose I could try rubbing one off into a ziploc bag or something.
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post #6 of 9
8/2/10 at 8:24pm
Ku Ku had it before, was diagnosed when I took her for an annual check-up. These bits were like sesame seeds(size & color wise), sticking around her anal. She got a shot(Prazig quartel) and prescribed Revolution(was on Fronline Plus before) for future prevention. The shot worked really well.
The "bits" disappeared within a day or two. She's been on Revolution ever since. Been almost 3 years now but no problem so far.

She used to be a feral but has been a strictly indoor-only kitty ever since I adapted her, so I was a bit shocked at first that she got tapeworm when she didn't have any flea on her or even direct-contact with other cats who may carry it at all.
Plus, I vacuumed room very often - the majority of area she was spending was carpeted - I never walk around in my room with shoes I wore outside to prevent bringing or dropping soils from outside.

My guess was, she may have exposed to flea at my first vet's facility when I boarded her for a couple of days.(needless to mention I changed vet)
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post #7 of 9
8/3/10 at 5:13am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by KKH View Post
Ku Ku had it before, was diagnosed when I took her for an annual check-up. These bits were like sesame seeds(size & color wise), sticking around her anal. She got a shot(Prazig quartel) and prescribed Revolution(was on Fronline Plus before) for future prevention. The shot worked really well.
The "bits" disappeared within a day or two. She's been on Revolution ever since. Been almost 3 years now but no problem so far.

She used to be a feral but has been a strictly indoor-only kitty ever since I adapted her, so I was a bit shocked at first that she got tapeworm when she didn't have any flea on her or even direct-contact with other cats who may carry it at all.
Plus, I vacuumed room very often - the majority of area she was spending was carpeted - I never walk around in my room with shoes I wore outside to prevent bringing or dropping soils from outside.

My guess was, she may have exposed to flea at my first vet's facility when I boarded her for a couple of days.(needless to mention I changed vet)
Well, I took the yellowish brown maggot-like samples in this morning and indeed they identified tapeworm segments on sight. Got some Praziquantel ordered (pill, although I asked for a shot ) and requested to keep Pussboots on a flea preventative. Then suggested after the de-worming a trying single monthly dose of Revolution.

Sort of got the feeling a doctor wasn't fully in charge this early in the morning as long as it is within a general prescribed regimine.


My hygiene practices will also get an unintended boost from not feeding the feral/stray kitties anymore. That was outlawed yesterday per our heartless apartment manager.
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post #8 of 9
8/3/10 at 6:11am
Once you get the flea problem under control, if you actually have a flea problem, and if your cat is an indoor-only cat, you shouldn't have to apply the Revolution monthly. We don't have a flea problem, but Tumbleweed had a few when he came, which is how he got the tapeworm. We apply Revolution about every 2-3 months on our girls and they're fine. I mainly use it for the ear mites and the heartworm preventative anyway.
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post #9 of 9
8/3/10 at 7:06am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by stephanietx View Post
Once you get the flea problem under control, if you actually have a flea problem, and if your cat is an indoor-only cat, you shouldn't have to apply the Revolution monthly. We don't have a flea problem, but Tumbleweed had a few when he came, which is how he got the tapeworm. We apply Revolution about every 2-3 months on our girls and they're fine. I mainly use it for the ear mites and the heartworm preventative anyway.
That is reassuring. I needed only one dose two years ago (last outbreak) for earmites and a worm that popped for the first time out right on the vets counter.

All three are indoor-only. The strays on the porch were the most natural magnet for fleas and it could have gotten attached to me almost anywhere. Having them gone hopefully means Revolution can be used only for however long it takes to kill the fleas that hatch from the egg larvae already inside.
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