Hookworm disease in cats: signs, diagnosis, treatment

Hookworms in cats cause great harm to the health of the animal. They parasitize the small intestine. Let's consider the biology of the helminth, routes of infection, clinical symptoms, control measures and prevention.

What to do in such a situation? To get started, we recommend reading this article. This article describes in detail methods of controlling parasites. We also recommend that you consult a specialist. Read the article >>>

Biology

Hookworm is a small, 5–13 mm long, filamentous nematode. Adults live in the intestines, and the eggs laid are excreted in the feces. The larvae hatch from them and remain viable in the soil for a long time. They enter the cat's alimentary tract with water or by licking contaminated paws. However, another route of infection is also possible - through the pores of intact skin. In this case, the larvae are carried into the trachea by the bloodstream and feed there for some time.

For puberty, the hookworm must enter the intestine. The activity of parasites is accompanied by the addition of secondary microflora, the development of inflammation, coughing and ingestion of larvae. Intrauterine infection of kittens usually does not occur, but immature hookworms wander throughout the body, enter the secretions of the mammary glands and infect sucklings.

Ways of infection of animals with hookworm

There are quite a few ways of infection with hookworm in animals, but among the most common are:

• infection through the skin;
• entry of helminth into the body during food intake;
• intrauterine route of infection.

There have also been cases of infection of newborn puppies and kittens with parasites through the mother's colostrum (secretion of the mammary glands) during feeding.

Once the parasite is in the animal's body, it can migrate throughout the body and even enter the circulatory system. This is what contributes to the appearance of various types of bleeding and hemorrhage. Worm larvae migrating through the body can penetrate the fetus through the placenta, in utero. Of course, worms do not develop in the body of unborn animals, but after birth, after 10-14 days, the animals become infected with hookworm.

Pathogenesis

Hookworms have sharp teeth, with which they drill through the mucous membrane and walls of small vessels. To prevent the blood from clotting, the helminths inject an anticoagulant into the wound. With severe intestinal infestation, anemia develops.

Crowded housing, especially in the conditions of a stray cat nursery, contributes to the widespread infection of animals.

general information

In essence, this disease is an infection of an animal with helminths. Hookworms differ from other parasites in that their mouths contain a pair of hard plates with hook-shaped teeth. This allows them to securely attach to body tissues. Parasites at an early stage of their development can be absolutely tiny, only a few millimeters long. Female parasites are much larger than males, they can reach a size of 2 cm. Hookworms, if not eliminated, can parasitize the body in hundreds.

Clinical symptoms

The main symptom of hookworm infection is anemia, characterized by the following symptoms:

• lethargy;
• lack of appetite;
• weight loss or growth failure;
• pallor of the mucous membranes, this is especially noticeable when examining the mouth;
• intestinal disorders;
• cough;
• vomit;
• feces are dark-colored, which indicates intestinal hemorrhages;
• six loses its shine and becomes unkempt;
• the paw pads bleed and become inflamed.

Kittens suffer more than adults.

Symptoms: how to recognize helminthiasis?

Hookworm infection in cats has no obvious signs for a long time. Sick kittens often lag behind in physical development, are weak and lethargic. The presence of worms is indicated by the following symptoms:

• pallor of the mucous membranes due to anemia;
• bloody impurities in the stool;
• frequent vomiting or diarrhea;
• dull, matted, falling out fur;
• loss of appetite;
• lethargy, refusal to play;
• rapid weight loss;
• itching and the appearance of wounds at the site of helminth penetration through the skin.

Parasite development cycle

So, we found out what hookworm in cats is and looks like. One infected animal alone can contain several hundred females of these dangerous worms. At the same time, the parasites lay several thousand eggs every day. After some time, the latter enter the environment with the cat’s feces. After about 1-3 weeks, the eggs hatch into larvae that can live in the soil for a very long time without a host.

Features of the development of the parasite

Once worms enter a cat's intestines, they first begin to feed on its tissues. Also, larvae can “graze” on the mucous membrane. Parasites do not cause any particular harm to the cat’s body during this period. However, after a few days the larvae grow up and begin to feed directly on the animal’s blood. At this time, the first symptoms of infection with a parasite such as hookworm appear in cats. A photo with the names of the stages of larval development (picture) can be seen just below.

In small kittens, the disease occurs a little differently than in adult animals. The first external signs of infection usually appear before the parasites reach sexual maturity and eggs appear in the feces.

Features of treatment

So what should owners do if they detect the presence of a parasite such as hookworm in cats? A photo of these worms can, of course, even frighten an inexperienced person. The nematodes of this group look really scary. However, fortunately, nylostomiasis does not fall into the category of incurable diseases. It is quite possible to rid an animal of parasites even in a short time. To do this, you just need to choose the right treatment method.

In a veterinary clinic, a patient is usually prescribed special antihistamines for the eye, and a special maintenance diet is also developed for her. Animals infected with hookworms lose weight very quickly. Therefore, their menu must include foods containing large amounts of proteins.

The presence of this type of nematode in a cat’s body, as already mentioned, almost always leads to anemia. Therefore, the diet of a sick animal, among other things, includes foods containing iron. In the most severe cases, when acute anemia cannot be eliminated with the help of food and medicine, the furry patient may even be prescribed a procedure such as a blood transfusion.

Treatment and prevention of hookworm disease in humans

In addition to animals, people are also susceptible to hookworm infection. Before getting a cat, you should familiarize yourself with the following facts:

1. Parasites are especially dangerous for children who have close contact with pets.
2. Every year, every second person on earth becomes infected with one of the 3 main types of parasites.
3. Depending on the number of helminths present in the body, a person can lose up to 0.5 liters of blood per day.
4. Hookworm larvae pass from animals to humans.
5. The most accurate test for the presence of helminths is enzyme immunoassay. This test is effective in 90% of cases. Diagnosing helminthiasis by examining feces does not always give a true result.

If parasites are found in a pet, their owners should immediately undergo deworming.

First of all, helminths from cats are transmitted to children

Traditional therapy and folk methods

Drugs for the treatment of hookworm are prescribed by the attending physician, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient, the severity of the disease and existing complications. The most common medications to combat pathology are as follows:

• "Mebendazole";
• "Dekaris";
• "Albendazole";
• "Pyrantel".

Among the folk recipes that help with illness are onion tincture, a decoction of unripe walnuts and an infusion of birch buds.

Onion tincture

Hookworm in cats: how to treat with drugs

As for medications, the veterinarian usually prescribes universal drugs for the animal, designed to destroy cestodes and nematodes. Almost any drug of similar purpose can be suitable in this case.

Worms in cats (hookworms are no exception in this regard) are most often treated with products made on the basis of:

In most cases, drugs such as Fenbendazole and Mebenvet are used to treat cats. The course of treatment with the first type is 5 days. The animal is given a tablet once a day. The cat is also treated with Mebenvet for 5 days. But they give her two tablets a day.

Prevention of hookworm

To avoid infection of the animal with parasites, deworming should be carried out periodically. Recommended timing:

• preventive – once every 3 months;
• before scheduled vaccination - 10 days;
• before birth - 3 weeks;
• after childbirth - 2 weeks.

Deworming is the most important preventive measure

The use of antiparasitic agents for kittens is allowed from three weeks of age.

For deworming, the following means are used:

1. "Piperazine" at the rate of 0.2 g/1 kg of weight for 3 days.
2. "Naftamon", 0.3 g/1 kg for 3 days.
3. "Mebenvet", 0.6 g/1 kg once.

Mixing drugs with minced meat is allowed.

In addition to these preventive measures, periodic disinfection of pet care items and the area where it is kept is necessary. If the animal lives in a country house, the area adjacent to it should be treated with a borax-based solution or salt.

Proper care of your pet is an important part of preventative measures.

How to give the drug correctly

Cats, as you know, are not very willing to take any medications, including those for worms. Therefore, in order to feed their pet with the medicine prescribed by the doctor, the owners will most likely have to resort to tricks.

First of all, the cat should be wrapped in an unnecessary sheet. Next, you need to put thin rubber gloves on your hands. Then you should carefully open the cat's mouth and place the tablet just below the root of the tongue. In this case, it is worth making sure that the animal does not damage the glove with its teeth. At the final stage, the cat owner should, of course, thoroughly wash their hands under running water and soap.

Sometimes owners also grind the tablets prescribed by the veterinarian into powder and mix them into the cat’s food. But it is still better to use such a method only if the remedy is offered to the animal as a preventive measure. Actually, when treating nylostomiasis, the owner must be completely sure that the medicine has entered the body of the sick animal in full.

Forecast

Usually, after treatment, cats recover quickly. Almost immediately after taking the pill that completes the course, the parasites leave the body or die inside, and are subsequently eliminated naturally.

Older cats may heal a little more slowly. In exceptional cases, the body cannot cope with helminths and, unfortunately, does not live to see them completely eliminated from the body. But this applies to very sick or old individuals.

If the animal is kept in good conditions and its diet includes large amounts of protein and iron, then the prognosis is quite favorable. The body will receive the most benefit at this time by consuming iron-rich beef, pork, poultry and fish. Since the body requires a significant amount of protein to recover, the cat needs to be given it through products such as eggs, sour cream, and milk.

After deworming and measures to strengthen the body, the cat fully recovers and the likelihood of relapse is eliminated.

Precautionary measures

Thus, the reader now knows the main ways in which a parasite such as hookworm appears in cats. Treatment of this disease must, of course, be done correctly. But it is equally important to observe all necessary personal precautions when carrying out this procedure. Unfortunately, owners can pick up parasites from a sick pet very easily.

Hookworm in cats is also transmitted to owners in several ways. The owner of an infected animal can become ill even by simply petting it and not washing their hands afterwards. Also, the larvae of the parasite can live in the animal's tray, on its bedding and in its bowl.

At the dacha, people often become infected with nylostomiasis when performing various types of excavation work. The larvae can also be ingested with unwashed fruit. Owners of a sick animal should not walk barefoot around the yard. The larvae can easily enter the bloodstream through the soles of the feet.

In a city apartment, in order to avoid infection, a sick cat should definitely have its own corner. The bedding of a sick animal must be changed periodically. The old rug can be washed (separately from other items). But it is better to use some unnecessary old rags as bedding for a sick cat and simply throw them away when changing them.

Hookworms

Is it possible for humans to become infected from animals?

Many pet owners are concerned that parasites living in the bodies of their four-legged friends will somehow infect family members. Experts assure that the causative agents of hookworm in animals are different from those that infect humans.

The exception is the species “A. Braziliense", which can cause human hookworm infection from an animal. But such a parasite penetrates the human body quite difficultly, and therefore lives under the skin for a long time, developing only there. Such an infection causes severe itching and rashes on the skin, which becomes noticeable almost immediately.

You should be attentive to your body and the life of your pets. If you maintain hygiene and carefully monitor them, then not a single parasite will cause hookworm infection in cats and dogs.

Treatment: how to act correctly?

Use of veterinary drugs

The dosage and medications are prescribed by a veterinarian; self-medication can harm the animal. To expel hookworm, the following medications are used:

• "Kaniquantel";
• "Milprazone";
• "Praziquantel";
• "Febantel";
• "Pyrantel";
• "Piperazine";
• "Noftamon";
• "Tetramizole";
• "Mebenvet."

There are effective anthelmintic drugs in the form of drops that are applied to the cat’s skin - “Profender”, “Stronghold”. For anemia, medications containing iron, cobalt, and copper are recommended. General strengthening vitamin complexes are needed - “Beafar Kittis Mix”, “Feliderm”, “Polidex”, “Doctor Zoo”, “Radostin”.

Treatment at home

It is strictly forbidden to give cats onions and garlic because of the disulfide they contain, which destroys red blood cells and provokes hemolytic anemia, diarrhea and lethargy.

Folk remedies do not replace drug treatment and should be consulted with a veterinarian before use. Hookworm in cats can be expelled with a decoction of pumpkin seeds. Preparation:

1. Take 30 g of raw seeds, peel them so as to preserve the green skin.
2. Twist into a homogeneous mass and pour in 50 ml of warm water.
3. Add 0.5 tsp. honey, mix.
4. Take immediately after preparation.

Therapeutic diet

If a cat gets hookworm, the animal’s body loses many useful substances. Therefore, the diet should be high in calories. It is recommended to give your pet holistic food or premium brands - “Acana”, “Bozita”, “Pronature Holistic”, “Trainer”, “Origin”. Food products contain all the necessary vitamins, microelements and herbs. It is also recommended to give raw liver in small portions, no more than 1-2 r. in Week. The product is rich in iron and is useful for anemia. Veterinarians recommend hard-boiled eggs, lean meats, minced into minced meat in a meat grinder, but not purchased.

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Interesting to know:

Bibliography

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Brucellosis. Parasites. Link
• Corbel MJ Parasitic diseases // World Health Organization. Link
• Young EJ Best matches for intestinal parasites // Clinical Infectious Diseases. — 1995. Vol. 21. - P. 283-290. Link
• Yushchuk N.D., Vengerov Yu.A. Infectious diseases: textbook. — 2nd edition. - M.: Medicine, 2003. - 544 p.
• Prevalence of parasitic diseases among the population, 2009 / Kokolova L. M., Reshetnikov A. D., Platonov T. A., Verkhovtseva L. A.
• Helminths of domestic carnivores of the Voronezh region, 2011 / Nikulin P. I., Romashov B. V.

An article for patients with a doctor-diagnosed disease. Does not replace a doctor's appointment and cannot be used for self-diagnosis.

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Topic: Parasites are to blame for all troubles!

From: Lyudmila S. ( [email protected] )

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