What kind of worms?!

Just laid down to take a nap and found a wet spot...someone threw up WORMS on my bed!!! Groooosss! So I called the vet and I'm going to take them (the worms) in to see what kind they are and then we're just going to treat all 5 cats appropriately. But just wondering what your opinion is?!

Roundworms, but maybe you live where there are some other kinds that look like them.

Looking at pictures online, roundworms were the conclusion I came to as well. Totally gross. (on my bed!) I guess I shall be changing all my litter and cleaning profusely for the rest of the evening.

They are gross but not the end of the world.

Don't change the litter until after they've been de-wormed! But, yeah, they're gross but at least they're easy to get rid of.

Those are definitely round worms. Easy to get rid of but clean area you found them thoroughly and the litter area (after they have been completely de-wormed) and make sure your kids (if you have any) don't go close to the litter box.

So as I posted earlier, I had called the vet and they said to bring the worms in and they would take a look to double check what kind they were before starting treatment. When I got them there, they took them into the back room, came back out shortly and said that the vet couldn't tell what kind they were and they actually needed to do a fecal. Since I don't know which cat they came from (we have 5 now), I have to take 5 fecal samples in tomorrow morning. Since it seems so obvious to me (and all of you) that those are roundworms, do you think the vet is just trying to get more cash out of me? I've felt like that with them about some other things, but these are my first animals ever so I can't be sure. How much does it cost to get a fecal done? Or...5 of them? So far, after 4 hours of litter box duty, I've gotten 3 of 5 samples. :-\

They are surely taking the p*ss?

OrientalSlave said:

They are surely taking the p*ss?

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Agree. They should just be giving you worming tabs for 5 cats, do you have any available over the counter there? (Here all flea and wormers are OTC)

missymotus said:

Agree. They should just be giving you worming tabs for 5 cats, do you have any available over the counter there? (Here all flea and wormers are OTC)

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I have no idea. I've owned cats less than a year now and previously just had them all wormed at the vet. I'm in the US - so does anyone know if we do have OTC dewormers here?

So you guys think my vet is ripping me off then? I haven't taken the fecal samples in yet. If that's the case, I can just call and find another vet (#3 in a year). But then since they don't know my cats, wouldn't they want to examine them all before prescribing?

I am no vet, but that IS a roundworm that one of your cats vomited up. That is ridiculous that the vet needs stool samples. I have never had a vet turn me away without giving me a dewormer for all of my cats. I don't like to sound cynical..... but..... I think that is unnecessary and a waste of your money to have all those stool checks. AND you don't even know which cat's poop you will be bringing in. Could be one that is not infected yet. :dk: I would ask this vet to just give you a dewormer for all of your cats. I would not under any circumstances use an OTC dewormer. Only from your vet. YOu could also ask for Profender. A top spot dewormer (apply it on the back of the head though so the cat can't lick it off) Usually only one treatment does it. Although, I ask for two - three weeks apart. Clean the cat pans right after the deworming, then again the same day as the next deworming dose.

Well, you CAN get the same stuff the vet uses OTC, it's just not as easy as going to Wal-Mart and grabbing some. Generic pyrantel pamoate suspension is what you want. You can probably get it at a farm store, but I always buy it online. This stuff: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00061MVMI/?tag=&tag=thecatsite

But just tell the vet you'd rather skip the fecal tests and give them all a Drontal. If he refuses, he's just going for the $$$. Drontal will cover all worms (and that's definitely a worm!), so there's no reason fecal exams are necessary.

I'm not familiar with the types of worms. I've only ever had one cat that had them; a stray I took in and eventually rehomed.  I had a mobile vet at that time and he came to the house and gave her a deworming pill, and that poor kitten poo'd out a worm that must have been 12 inches long. I was horrified!!!

So far as prescriptions go, my vet clinic will not dispense prescriptions without doing an basic physical assessment of the pet, even if it is a prescription refill. I think it's all about the money!

Because of all your advice - and your positive diagnosis of roundworms - I decided that my vet was probably trying to rip me off by requesting 5 fecal samples, so I didn't take them in. (I already had collected 3 -eww- and I just threw them in the trash lol!) I had a crazy couple days at work so all this got put off until my next day off (today!). I called the vet back and didn't mention that I had called before. I told them that one of my cats had thrown up some roundworms. I wasn't sure which cat it was, I would like to treat all 5, and could I be prescribed meds for that - I would like to pick up a dose for now and another dose for 2 weeks from now so I didn't have to come back later. The lady on the phone said...SURE! No questions asked. Nothing about fecals. So I went and picked up liquid Strongid T. That's what it says on the bottle anyhow. I mixed it in with a tiny bit of wet food for each kitty and am now about to bleach my litter boxes. 

Is this the normal drug prescribed for roundworms? Do the worms usually just come out the other end in the litter box or will they throw them up? And how long does that take? Today? Tomorrow? Will I likely notice the worms in the litter? (I can't find any in the litter now even though I KNOW at least one of my kitties has them.) 

Yes, Strongid T is the usual stuff for roundworms (the product I linked to is the generic equivalent). You might see some worms in the litterbox or vomit but usually they die inside and are digested (eww) so you probably won't see any.

If you are hoping they will eat the food mixed with the drug I reckon you are being very optimistic.  The box will have the dose on, hopfully you have been given a syringe with it, draw up the right amount based on the cat's weight and squirt it into the cat's mouth.  In the UK they would get a Milbemax, a tiny pill, though we have to go to the vet for it.

OrientalSlave said:

If you are hoping they will eat the food mixed with the drug I reckon you are being very optimistic.  The box will have the dose on, hopfully you have been given a syringe with it, draw up the right amount based on the cat's weight and squirt it into the cat's mouth.  In the UK they would get a Milbemax, a tiny pill, though we have to go to the vet for it.

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They already did eat the food mixed with the drug All of them went right to it with no problems. I waited until about an hour after "normal" meal time so I knew they'd be super hungry. Then I locked myself in the bedroom with one small can of food and the syringes and meds. The vets office was nice enough to mark the amount on a different syringe for each cat. I put about a teaspoon of pate style wet food down and squirted the Strongid on top of it. I then invited the cats in one at a time to eat their teaspoon of food with meds on top. As they were eating, I kept sticking the spoon in to mix it up better to make sure they actually got it all. None of them even thought a second time about trying it.

As of this posting, I have just finished scrubbing the litter boxes and kitties are enjoying an early evening playtime

Strongid actually tastes OK. Sort of vanilla-y. It's the same stuff they sell for children with pinworms. I've had varying success with mixing it with food. Anything with praziquantel is super bitter, though. Can't slip that into food at all.

Glad to hear your kitties ate it all up! That's a lot easier than trying to syringe them, that's for sure :lol3:.

That was GREAT thinking to just call back and out right ask for the deworming med!!! SO glad that this has all worked out for you and that the kitties will soon be roundworm free!! Makes it much easier too, if they just eat it up like than mixed in food. I don't have such luck :lol3: and usually have to syringe the medicine just to make sure they get the full dose.

Glad you got some answers and some medicines.  I wonder if that vet needs to be reported to the Better Business Bureau or somebody.  It is hard to find a good vet that you can trust and believe.  I am glad I did and I sitck with that one.