Detecting worms! ARE MINE INFECTED?

Hello all --

I have had my kittens for about 1 1/2 weeks now, and they've been completely healthy. I have not had any issues ... Except I am worried Samson (15 weeks) may be a little bloated ... yet his "sister" seems fine. She's only 11 weeks -- yet the tiniest thing and very trim. I have not notced anything abnormal about their poops, yet have not even been looking.

I have been informed that all the other kittens in their litters got worms. I don't think they had them to start with -- as they've all gone back to different homes .. but I know a few other people with kittens from the same place, and they have worms. I don't know if that makes my kittens more prone or what?

And how much can a vet bill cost to get my cats de wormed? Or do I need a vet? Isn't there something I can give them orally, something I could pick up at Petco or other pet store?

Thank you all -- for any help you have with worming!
I need it!

Courtney

Someone with more experience and knowledge than I should be along soon to help you, but it is my understanding that most kittens are born with worms that they get from their mom. Any kitten we've ever had needed to be de-wormed on their first visit to the vet (which in our case was between 8 and 10 weeks).

Stay tuned and await the advice of the more knowledgeable persons here.

Worms are quite common in kittens. Yes, you need a vet to diagnose the health of the kitten and determine if worming medicine is safe for them. You will waste money and even might do harm by deworming them yourself, because without a fecal you have no clue what kind of worms they have- if they even have them.

Originally Posted by TortyBunches

Hello all --

I have had my kittens for about 1 1/2 weeks now, and they've been completely healthy. I have not had any issues ... Except I am worried Samson (15 weeks) may be a little bloated ... yet his "sister" seems fine. She's only 11 weeks -- yet the tiniest thing and very trim. I have not notced anything abnormal about their poops, yet have not even been looking.

I have been informed that all the other kittens in their litters got worms. I don't think they had them to start with -- as they've all gone back to different homes .. but I know a few other people with kittens from the same place, and they have worms. I don't know if that makes my kittens more prone or what?

And how much can a vet bill cost to get my cats de wormed? Or do I need a vet? Isn't there something I can give them orally, something I could pick up at Petco or other pet store?

Thank you all -- for any help you have with worming!

I need it!

Courtney

Click to expand...

Many over the counter products do not work. It's best to get medication from a vet. As for cost, that will depend on the vets in your area, if they want to exam the kittens since some medicine doses are by weight only.

The best thing if you haven't done it yet is take the kittens in for an exam.

My Vet only charged me $20 for de-worming. But different vets vary, check around, some charge low cost rates some are much higher. The $20 however does not include the fee they charge to examine your kitten.

I agree it is very important that you take your kittens in to the Vet for an exam to verify the type of worms they have so they may be treated appropriately. Following treatment, they will need to return to ensure the worms have been effectively eliminated.

Just because the kittens went to different homes....doesnt mean anything when it comes to worms.....for the most part worms are passed from the mom cat to the kittens.........and yes a good majority of kittens not born to the system have worms.........

youre going to want to bring the kittens to the vet as soon as possible...this is not only for the safety of the kittens but also the safety of your family.....

some worms cause zoonotic diseases....which can be transmitted between animals and humans....deworming is a good prevention method for these diseases....

as for the bloated belly, that doesnt sound good at all....and should be looked at asap

good luck...keep us updated

Thank you all so much -- I'm going to just take them to the vet ASAP, as I am a little worried about the bloated tummy. I just moved to this area .. so I'm crossing my fingers I find one I like.

Thank you all -- I needed this information!
Courtney

Originally Posted by TortyBunches

Hello all --

I have had my kittens for about 1 1/2 weeks now, and they've been completely healthy. I have not had any issues ... Except I am worried Samson (15 weeks) may be a little bloated ... yet his "sister" seems fine. She's only 11 weeks -- yet the tiniest thing and very trim. I have not notced anything abnormal about their poops, yet have not even been looking.

I have been informed that all the other kittens in their litters got worms. I don't think they had them to start with -- as they've all gone back to different homes .. but I know a few other people with kittens from the same place, and they have worms. I don't know if that makes my kittens more prone or what?

And how much can a vet bill cost to get my cats de wormed? Or do I need a vet? Isn't there something I can give them orally, something I could pick up at Petco or other pet store?

Thank you all -- for any help you have with worming!

I need it!

Courtney

Click to expand...

Where did you get your kittens? A lot of shelters and rescue organizations will treat worms for free. I'd call the people/place and see what the policy is, especially since they seem to have picked up the worms at their original home. But they definitely need to be treated by a vet. Over-the-coubnter meds can be ineffective or dangerous, especially if the kittens haven't been diagnosed. There are many different kinds of worms and parasites out there and they are treated differently.

If you know the other kittens in the litter have worms, then you can be sure yours do, too. As the others have already noted, worms are often passed from the mother cat to the kittens in the milk.

An Update:

These cats were originally my sisters. She picked them up from an old neighbor friend. Now, Samson and Lucy are not from the same litter, but they are brothers and sisters, or I think possibly half brother and sister .. Not exactly sure. Just know they are related -- in some way.

My sister told me they had a lot of kittens running around .. and it sounded like from a few different litters. As Samson is 15 weeks, and Lucy is now 11. (I think they may be a little older than that.) But I don't have a direct relation with the people the kittens were born with.

I just know through talking, my sister has said that her other friends that also took home some kitties -- all ended up having worms. I don't think she knows for sure, but she knows that "most" of the kittens got worms, or had worms.

This makes me nervous. So I am going to end up taking them to the vet, as soon as I can. They have never been to a vet yet either .. And they are 11 and 15 weeks and I am sure they are due for a check-up pronto. If there is anyone from the Southwest Portland, Raleigh Hills area who could suggest a vet. Or a clinic that might be failry cheap. I would appreciate it. Although I am much more concerned about them getting the right treatment then I am about saving a few dollars.

I also noted about that Samson is looking bloated ... I honestly don't think he is. His sister is just the tiniest thing ... I think I was trying to compare their tummies, and Samson just seemed -- bigger. He's not bloated looking ... yet I don't really know. Here are a few pictures, sorry for the size, I don't really know how to change it at the moment ...



I just took these a few moments ago -- I was trying to get angles that would maybe show a bloated stomach. But it really does feel normal .. Not that I would really know if a cat had a bloated tummy, as I have never had a cat with a bloated tummy!

Is there any way I can look at their poop and see? I am going to take them to the vet regardless .. just would like to learn from this.

Thanks again ....

I would really just calm down and not worry too much about it. They'll be just fine for a few days until you can get them to a vet. There isn't much you can do at home that will be effective. Just in case they have one of the types of worms that are zoonotic (transmissable to humans) just take basic hygenic precautions after cleaning the litterbox or being in contact with the cat's back end. The chances are extremely low.

For best diagnosis, get a fecal sample the same day you take them to the vet. You can put it in a clean jar or zip-lock plastic baggie. One for each cat.

Good luck. Sounds like you're going to be a good cat parent!!

Thank you! I'll take your advice.

Good luck with your cats.