At what age can kittens be dewormed?

Parasitic worms, which are popularly called worms, and in medicine helminths, are serious diseases not only in humans, but also in domestic animals.

Young animals, such as kittens, are most at risk. Let's try to figure out how to properly remove worms from cats and kittens, what you need to know so as not to harm the animal.

How to properly remove worms from kittens?

Many pet owners ask this question. Very often, after picking up a kitten from the street or buying it at a spontaneous market, helminths are discovered in it.

It is necessary to understand that treating worms in kittens is a very serious procedure. If you use the wrong medications and use them in large dosages, you can seriously harm the animal’s body.

At the moment, in veterinary pharmacies you can find a huge variety of drugs to combat parasitic worms in animals.

It is important to know:

• Kittens should not be given any medicine, because many of them are very toxic and can even kill the animal.
• The right choice of drug is the key to the success and health of your furry baby.
• It is necessary to purchase only medications intended for kittens.
• Follow the dosage indicated in the instructions. Most often, doses depend on the age, weight and condition of the kitten.

The drugs are available in the form of tablets, suspensions and powders. Veterinarians recommend taking suspensions, as they are less toxic and cannot cause much harm to the young body.

Now let's try to understand the main features that need to be paid special attention to. We will also look at the main questions that owners have.

Main types of helminths in cats

Several types of anthelmintic drugs are commercially available:

• against a specific type of worm;
• complex type with a wide spectrum of action.

You can purchase drugs in the form of:

• solutions for injections;
• drops;
• suspensions;
• tablets.

How to deworm a cat? It is necessary to choose the right medication, taking into account:

• individual characteristics of the body;
• pet's character;
• age category of the pet;
• the presence of children in the house who are in contact with the cat.

Note! Only healthy animals can be dewormed. Before giving your cat a pill, it is important to read the instructions and pay special attention to the sections on contraindications and side effects of the medication.

At what age are kittens wormed for the first time?

For the first time, it is necessary to treat a kitten for worms with drugs, and not with injections and vaccinations. When taking a kitten for a helminth vaccination, it is necessary that it is completely healthy.

Medicines can be given to kittens no earlier than they reach two months of age. At this stage, the body is already able to perceive toxic substances contained in medications without much harm to health.

If the owners do not know the age, then it is best to contact a veterinary clinic. Doctors, after examining the patient, will be able to determine his approximate age. In addition, such a clinic will be able to make an accurate diagnosis. In total, there are more than 80 species of worms that parasitize the body of cats. The effectiveness of treatment directly depends on the definition of the specific disease.

Why is regularity important?

To ensure that there are no parasites in the cat’s body, treatment with special preparations must be carried out regularly, once every 3-4 months. If you do not do this, some time after the initial procedure the cat will again develop helminths.

The risk of pathology especially increases if the pet is fed natural food. Helminthiasis is a rather dangerous disease, which is accompanied by the following disorders:

• weakening of the immune system, dysfunction of internal organs and systems;
• some parasites “intercept” the nutritional elements supplied with the food, which is why the animal develops vitamin deficiency;
• parasites produce toxins, which can cause intoxication of the body;
• With helminthiasis, the immune system devotes all its strength to fighting helminthic invasion, which is why the body does not receive full protection against various viruses and infections.

It is also worth considering that parasites can be transmitted from a kitten to humans. To provoke an infection, it is enough for a pet to rub against the owner’s hand or lick it. If there is a strong infection or parasites live in the lungs, it is enough for a cat to breathe near a person’s face to transmit the disease to him.

- I don’t want to get sick.

How often should a kitten be wormed?

Most often, taking the drug takes place in two stages:

1. The first stage is taking the drug.
2. The second stage is repeated administration to remove the remaining helminths and new ones that have hatched from the eggs during this time.

Repeated administration of the drug must be carried out 10-12 days after the first. But there are drugs that need to be taken again after a longer period.

In order to accurately determine the interval between doses, you must carefully read the instructions for use of the drug.

After repeated use of the medicine, there should be no parasites left in the body. If everything went well, then the kitten no longer needs any treatment. In order to protect his health, it is recommended to have a special vaccination.

How to deworm a baby before vaccination?

Vaccination against helminths is preventative and prevents the appearance of parasites in cats for a certain period of time. Before vaccination, it is necessary to carry out a course of treatment or a preventive course.

Before vaccination, a kitten should be dewormed in the following way:

• If the kitten has worms, it is necessary to take the drug twice a day. It is very important after treatment to make sure that there are no parasites left in the body.
• If the kitten does not have worms , then it is still strongly recommended to arrange prophylaxis approximately 10-15 days before vaccination. It is prohibited to vaccinate sick animals, so prevention will not be superfluous. In this case, a one-time use of the drug according to the instructions is necessary.

Which deworming medicine should I choose for kittens?

The most important criterion is the choice of medicine specifically intended for kittens. Medicines for adult cats, dogs and even puppies can cause serious harm and cause severe intoxication of the body, even death.

At the moment there are a lot of such special drugs. The task is to choose the least harmful and toxic. At the same time, it must be able to quickly and permanently rid the body of helminths.

A prime example of such a drug on the market is Prasitel .

There are two main active ingredients in this drug:

• Pyratel pamoate. A component of the drug that perfectly fights worms, paralyzing them. It also helps to quickly remove helminths from the body (it is a laxative). Used to combat roundworms.
• Praziquantel. An anthelmintic that perfectly fights tapeworms, as well as all types of flukes.

Thus, the drug has the ability to fight almost all parasitic diseases in animals and is universal. An important factor is that these components are not highly toxic.

There are other similar drugs on the market; the choice is up to the animal owner.

Symptoms of worm infection in a kitten

It is much easier to identify symptoms of worm infection in a kitten than in an adult cat. You can learn the symptoms of worms in cats from this article.

There are a number of symptoms that indicate this disease:

• Loss of activity and appetite.
• The animal quickly loses weight.
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
• Developmental delay compared to other kittens.
• Hair loss.
• Sometimes the stomach becomes very bloated.
• If the infection is severe, breathing may become difficult.
• Itching. Animals ride on their fifth point on the floor.
• The presence of worms in the animal’s feces (most often they look like grains of rice).

How to determine whether you need to deworm

An adult and strong animal has a high resistance to helminths, so determining the presence of worms can be quite difficult. The main symptoms of infection of a pet with endoparasites are:

• the appearance of lethargy and fatigue;
• signs of the presence of helminths or their eggs in feces;
• intestinal disorder characterized by alternating constipation and diarrhea;
• sudden weight loss;
• the presence of severe bloating and increased density in the abdominal area;
• refusal to eat;
• the appearance of vomiting;
• hair loss or dullness;
• manifestations of restlessness and severe nervousness.

The symptoms of infestation of a pet with worms are very similar to the appearance of signs of other, very dangerous and quite serious cat diseases, so the need to carry out anthelmintic measures must necessarily be supported not only by external manifestations, but also by test results.

This is interesting! A veterinary examination of a pet, confirming the need for deworming, includes not only standard tests, but also a diagnostic examination of the animal by a specialized doctor.

The kitten has tapeworms: how to get rid of them?

Tapeworms are one of the biggest and most common problems. The biggest danger is that they can parasitize not only the animal’s gastrointestinal tract, but also other organs (for example, the liver).

It is necessary to remove such worms:

• in the same way as other types;
• as early as possible - the sooner treatment begins, the fewer negative consequences there will be for the kitten.

An important part of treating worms is removing fleas. They are carriers of such parasites. Thus, even after taking the medicine and removing the worms, the fleas remaining on the animal are able to reintroduce tapeworms into the body.

Regularity of deworming

Preventive and health-improving deworming should be carried out periodically from three weeks of age. To do this, use products marked “for kittens”. The remaining anthelmintics are intended for older pets. It is better to give such drugs to animals that have reached 1.5-2 months.

The regularity of preventive measures depends on age. Young animals under one year of age need to be dewormed at least once every three months, adult cats - once every six months. But the frequency of the procedure may vary: for example, for cats that eat fresh fish, offal and raw minced meat, deworming is recommended once every 3-4 months . It should be carried out to reduce the risk of infection by parasites found in raw foods.

If a cat does not go outside, then one should not think that he is not susceptible to parasitic infestation. Such an animal is wormed according to the following scheme: before a year - once every quarter, after a year - once every six months. You need to know that many types of parasites from animals can be easily transmitted to humans, causing serious disorders in the body.

Usually cats are dewormed once, but if parasites are suspected (found in feces, distended abdomen, diarrhea), the drug must be given again. The primary procedure allows you to destroy only adult worms. After 10 days, untouched eggs mature and grow - they die during repeated deworming.

Black feces in a cat: causes of color change

A kitten can become infected with worms from a cat even before it is born. After birth, infection can also occur through milk, which contains helminth eggs. This can happen even if the cat is indoor and never leaves the apartment. If a kitten was picked up on the street, then you can be sure that worms are definitely present in its body.

How to use deworming medication for kittens?

Most drugs are available in the form of suspensions or tablets. However, no matter what method the owner chooses, the kitten will definitely not be happy. He will try by all means to “spit out” the pill. Let's look at how to properly give medicine in one form or another.

Application of the suspension

Most often, the suspension is sold in syringes, but sometimes it is also found in bottles.

In any case, the suspension is injected into the mouth using a syringe (without playing):

1. To do this, you need to take the animal in your arms.
2. Grasp the withers with one hand (this will immobilize the animal), and with the other carefully introduce the required amount of suspension.

Many cats have very sensitive mucous membranes. When using a suspension, this may cause vomiting or excessive salivation. Don't be afraid of this; vomiting goes away within 10-15 minutes.

If the kitten starts to “drool,” then there’s nothing wrong with that either. The copious secretion of saliva ends after 3-5 minutes, but then saliva can flow from the animal’s mouth for several more hours.

If such a reaction occurs, the medicine is wasted and comes out along with saliva or vomit. You should not try again or try to calm the kitten down. He will most likely start running and be quite aggressive for a few minutes.

Pills

Tablets are a more universal remedy and do not cause side effects. Do not be afraid that the animal may choke on the tablet. They are small enough and specially made for kittens. In extreme cases, the tablet can be crushed into powder.

How to give a kitten an anti-worm tablet?

You need to grab the kitten by the withers with one hand, and then put the tablet on the root of the tongue. But don't try to push it as deep as possible.

After this, you need to squeeze the kitten’s jaws for about 20-30 seconds so that he does not spit out the tablet.

What to give a kitten for worms as it grows older?

Cats usually carry several types of worms: nematodes and cestodes. The structure of the drug may include one active substance or several that destroy parasites at any stage of development.

Manufacturers offer Prasitel for treating adults and children with a mild and effective effect. It is worth noting that the active substance immobilizes a large individual and subsequently removes helminths with feces.

There are many different drugs (Panacur, Profender, Dirofen) that can get rid of worms in one go, but it is important to follow an age-appropriate dosage, since an excess of the drug can kill a kitten.

Your veterinarian can tell you how many tablets to give and the amount of active substance that is permissible at a certain age and at a specific weight of the baby.

The market for veterinary drugs is overflowing with various drugs. For the prevention and treatment of helminthiasis, kittens are given:

• suspensions;
• pills;
• powders;
• injections.

The most commonly used products are tablets and suspensions. Not everyone can give the drug correctly. To do this, place your fingers on the corners of your mouth and press slightly; the tablet is placed on the root of your tongue.

Note! Easier to use for an animal of any age, the dosage form is a suspension. It can be poured in with a special plastic pipette or from a spoon or syringe. Prazitel is immediately equipped with such a dispenser.

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Suspension

The suspension is convenient to give to kittens. It is odorless and has a sweetish taste. Usually the drugs are given on an empty stomach; the substance can be mixed with food.

The main meal is offered after an hour to an hour and a half. Suspensions work gently, do not negatively affect the digestive system, and there is no need to give laxatives in combination to remove helminths.

The most commonly used suspensions by consumers:

• Prazitel;
• Prazicide Plus;
• Dirofen;
• Dironet;
• Febtalcombo.

Tablets and suspensions can be given to kittens from 3 weeks. First, there are some points to consider. If a kitten is taken from the street or from a shelter, it, in any case, needs to be dewormed - but a procedure should be carried out to get rid of other parasites (lice, fleas) and improve its health. Some cat breeds (British, Persian, Russian Blue) have a tendency to develop diseases of the liver and other organs. Less toxic products (suspensions) are better suited for them.

As a preventive measure, deworming is carried out every 6 months. If there is a high risk of infection (free range, rural areas) - once every 3 months. Before vaccinations, the procedure is mandatory.

Attention! Before purchasing anthelmintic tablets for worms, be sure to visit a veterinarian and calculate the exact dosage! The wrong drug or the wrong dosage can be fatal! The instructions for use must be strictly followed!

Treatment regimen

Let's look at the entire treatment regimen step by step:

• Give the medicine to the kitten.
• Make sure that after about 20-30 minutes he goes to the toilet. If this does not happen, it is necessary to give a laxative to prevent intoxication.
• Immediately after the kitten goes to the toilet, it is necessary to throw away waste products in a place inaccessible to it.
• It is advisable to stay at home all the time on the day of treatment to clean up after the kitten after each trip to the toilet.
• Check that the treatment is successful. Worms should be observed in the feces.
• After 10-12 days, repeat the procedure in the same order.

Poisoning and complications after using anthelmintic drugs - what to do?

Symptoms of poisoning from kittens are similar to human symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, drowsiness, difficulty breathing, fever, etc.

Most often, the kitten just needs to be given a little rest and provided with plenty of water. You can also give some medicine to cleanse the stomach.

If the poisoning is severe enough and there are many symptoms, you should immediately contact a veterinary clinic. There the kitten will be injected with a special saline solution and the intestines will be washed. Most likely, a course of vitamin medications will subsequently be prescribed for recovery.

Reviews of the drug Prazitel

Reviews about the drug Prazitel:

1. Lyudmila Butenko: “I picked up a kitten and decided to treat it for worms. The veterinary pharmacy recommended Prazitel. I treated him according to the instructions and he actually had worms, which I saw in the tray. Now there are no such problems, it’s an excellent drug.”
2. Evgenia Sadovnichenko: “We have been using Prazitel for a long time, mostly for prevention. We live in a private house, and the cat brings kittens several times. The drug works great and there are no side effects.”
3. Tatyana Mordvintseva: “We took a small kitten from a grandmother near the metro station, who was giving them out for free. About a week later we found out that he had worms. We thought for a long time about how to treat it and took it to a veterinary clinic. They recommended Prazitel. When they brought me in for a re-examination a month later, everything was fine. I recommend to everyone!".

Preventive measures

To prevent helminthic infestation it is necessary:

• systematically carry out wet cleaning in the premises where animals live;
• exclude contact of pets with street animals;
• exclude raw fish and meat from the cat’s menu;
• systematically wash the tray and disinfect it;
• regularly check animals at the veterinary clinic for the presence of worms.

Timely prevention of a cat from helminthic infestation, order in the house and systematic replacement of litter in the tray will help to avoid an unpleasant disease that can lead to irreparable consequences. How to worm a cat and how to worm a kitten should be decided by a veterinarian, who will take into account the health status of the feline and its age category.

Anthelmintic drugs are popularly called anthelmintics or anthelmintics (Anthelmintica vermifuga). Such drugs are used to remove worms or helminths from the body of many domestic animals, including cats, cats and kittens.