Worms?

laralove

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 18, 2013
Messages
1,226
Purraise
93
Location
Near Chapel Hill, North Carolina
When I first met Oliver in his foster home, he dragged his butt across the floor. Having never owned a cat before, I didn't think anything of it. Since I adopted him, he's done that periodically, and since he leaves little skid marks for me to clean up, I figured it was just an issue of keeping himself clean. Similarly, licking his anus, I thought that was also just him keeping the area clean. However, he is spending more and more time licking his bottom. He's an indoor only cat but is a feral rescue, and having seen him drag his butt at the foster home, I'm thinking he may have already had worms when I adopted him.

That noted, I just checked his medical records. He went to the vet on Oct 11 (I adopted him Nov 16) for vomiting and fever and part of the exam ruled out a GI parasite. So meh... any insight? Could he just be keeping a clean butt?
 
Last edited:

cprcheetah

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 23, 2013
Messages
1,887
Purraise
149
Location
Bountiful, UTah
Dragging the butt usually indicates impacted anal glands which would be the 'skidmarks' you are seeing on the ground.  What kind of diet are you feeding your cat?  Usually the anal glands are expressed with a bowel movement, but sometimes depending on the diet the stools are softer so their isn't enough pressure to express them naturally so it has to be done manually (by a vet or groomer),   If they have to be done manually usually it's every 4-8 weeks or so they need to be done.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

laralove

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 18, 2013
Messages
1,226
Purraise
93
Location
Near Chapel Hill, North Carolina
He eats two cans of Fancy Feast Classics a day and has limited access to dry food. Maybe 1/4 cup per day. He also drinks a fair amount of water.
 
Last edited:

stephanietx

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 1, 2005
Messages
14,768
Purraise
3,489
Location
Texas
As mentioned, the dragging his butt across the carpet is a sign that the anal glands need to be expressed.  However, it could just be that his stools are hard and painful to pass.  The scooting is his way of "scratching" the itch.  I had a kitty with this problem and it was frustrating!  Do you know if his stools are hard and dry?  It's possible that changing to a grain free diet will help soften his stools.  You can also add plain canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) to his wet food and see if that helps soften his stools.

Also meant to mention that worms generally cause diarrhea, not this issue.  I'm leaning towards the grain making his stools more firm than comfortable and perhaps the grain-free diet will help that.
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

laralove

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 18, 2013
Messages
1,226
Purraise
93
Location
Near Chapel Hill, North Carolina
I checked his stool and it was soft. Also, he seemed to have an issue with it sticking to him a bit, because there were a couple pieces that got tracked out. But he may have gotten startled out of his litter box by one of my kids. I suppose I'll call the vet on Monday and see if I should bring him in. 
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6

laralove

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 18, 2013
Messages
1,226
Purraise
93
Location
Near Chapel Hill, North Carolina
I took him to the vet this morning and they determined that his anal glands were fine. I guess I read his medical records wrong or I missed something, but they said he'd gotten a dewormer during that early October visit and that he needed another. She said he has tape worms. So she shoved a pill down his throat, which he took surprisingly well, and we went on our way. 

Quick, mostly painless (for him), and way cheaper than I expected the visit to be. Considering how scared he was when he was first dropped off for adoption, I expected this to be a really traumatic experience for him, but he was totally fine. A little apprehensive at first; we had to pull him out to weigh him and he ran back in the carrier after, but then he started to poke his head out. When we took him out to be examined by the doc, the vet tech held him and he was good. Didn't try to get away, bite or scratch. They said he was way more calm than most cats. Got home, he ate, then played for a while before taking a nap. 

Anyway, hopefully this takes care of his bottom problem.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7

laralove

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 18, 2013
Messages
1,226
Purraise
93
Location
Near Chapel Hill, North Carolina
How long for a dewormer to work its magic? It's been almost a week and he's still dragging and licking his butt. And he seemed really uncomfortable this morning. 
 

cprcheetah

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 23, 2013
Messages
1,887
Purraise
149
Location
Bountiful, UTah
Most dewormers work within 24 hours.  It he is still dragging his rear, worms may not have been his only problem.  It could be anal gland issues or allergies.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #9

laralove

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 18, 2013
Messages
1,226
Purraise
93
Location
Near Chapel Hill, North Carolina
It's definitely not his anal glands. The vet checked those when I took him in and said they were doing just fine. Maybe he's allergic to Fancy Feast. Ugh. I just got two cases! 
 

peaches08

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 11, 2013
Messages
4,884
Purraise
290
Location
GA
Constipation? You can add water to the canned food. If that doesn't help, Miralax or canned pumpkin might help.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #11

laralove

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 18, 2013
Messages
1,226
Purraise
93
Location
Near Chapel Hill, North Carolina
He's pooping, and it's not hard or dry. We do add about a tablespoon of water to his meals, and he drinks from his water bowl regularly. I tried giving him pumpkin, but he wouldn't eat it. I suppose I'll try changing his food up. See if the grain-free Friskies make a difference. Otherwise, I'll make another vet visit. :/
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #12

laralove

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 18, 2013
Messages
1,226
Purraise
93
Location
Near Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Oliver is going to the vet again tomorrow or the next day (depending on when I can get an appointment for him). He's been dragging and licking his bottom again for a couple of days or so and then he had diarrhea again today. They gave him a dewormer about three weeks ago, which seemed to take a few days to work (if it did at all). He'd not been doing these things for a couple of weeks, so could it be something else? I think the vet said it may be a diet issue. In which case, we're planning to change that anyway. 

Also, BF asked tonight about a bald spot Oliver has on one of his hind knees. I've noticed it but never thought much of it. We're going to ask the vet, but does anyone know what could be causing that? I'll try to snap a pic soon.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #13

laralove

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 18, 2013
Messages
1,226
Purraise
93
Location
Near Chapel Hill, North Carolina
This vet visit cost me ten times more than the last, and it was for the same thing. They don't know what's wrong with him, so they're going to send a fecal sample for testing. Meanwhile they gave me pro-biotics and recommended I get him some Arnica for his irritated bum. 

She said it could be a diet sensitivity and was pleased to hear that we are going to an all raw diet. She also said his weight gain is perfect,  and his coat and teeth look  really good.  And the spot on his knee she said is likely a scar from an injury he got before I adopted him. So nothing to worry about so long as it doesn't appear to be irritating him. 
 
Top