It’s not uncommon for owners to treat their beloved pets to soups, buns, stewed vegetables, salads, ready-made baby purees, kebabs, etc. All these products may contain onions and/or garlic, which are dangerous for animals in any form: fresh, fried, boiled, stewed. Therefore, today I want to tell you about onion and garlic poisoning in cats and dogs.
Why is garlic recommended for pets?
Herbalists recommend using garlic as an antibacterial or antifungal agent and to lower blood lipid and cholesterol levels in humans. It is also sometimes used to lower blood pressure and suppress tumor formation. However, many of these goals are not supported by clinical trials.
For pets such as cats and dogs, garlic is recommended to reduce internal and external parasites. Flea products for dogs and cats also often contain large amounts of garlic.
Only happy cats purr
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Cats purr when they're happy, but that's not the only reason. Sometimes they greet each other like this. Purring can be a sign of illness and extreme stress. On the other hand, low frequency vibrations caused by purring trigger self-healing processes in the cat's body.
What studies have been done on garlic supplements?
Despite the large number of flea treatments that contain garlic, there is no scientific evidence that it is effective. However, there are some studies that support the partial effectiveness of garlic as an antiparasitic in dogs and cats.
Studies have also been conducted that show the effectiveness of garlic in the fight against Giardia (protozoan intestinal parasites) and dermatophytes (fungal skin diseases) in dogs and cats. It is believed that garlic may lower blood pressure in dogs and minimize aminoglycoside (antibiotic) toxicity in many pets. Some laboratory studies have shown garlic's ability to suppress tumor formation.
All of these effects should be considered minor, and comparable to the likelihood of garlic damaging red blood cells in dogs and cats.
Diagnostics
How to determine that a cat has helminthiasis and not some other disease, infectious or non-infectious, in which the same symptoms appear?
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This is a very important question, because if you start treatment in an adult, and even more so in a kitten, who has picked up another infection, it can end in death. An accurate diagnosis can only be made by a veterinarian based on a stool analysis.
At the slightest suspicion that your pet has worms, collect her feces in a tightly closed jar (it should be clean and dry) and take it to the veterinarian for analysis (until this time, store it in the refrigerator). At the pharmacy you can buy a special jar for testing.
How to determine if a cat has worms?
How safe is garlic?
There is a possibility that garlic may increase insulin secretion and hence it may also benefit dogs suffering from diabetes. However, at the same time, garlic should be used with caution in animals receiving insulin. Garlic can also reduce blood clotting and enhance the effects of anticoagulants.
The main problem caused by garlic consumption in dogs and cats is its ability to cause oxidative stress, which leads to red blood cell damage and therefore increases the risk of anemia in animals. However, this requires large doses, but with a small intake of garlic, red blood cell counts have been proven to remain at the same level. Concomitant use of antioxidants may also protect red blood cells from the harmful effects of garlic.
Signs of infection
Helminths are the causative agents of helminthiasis in humans and animals, which are worms of various species.
In addition, raw fish and meat, unwashed vegetables are sources of infection with worms. The carriers of their eggs are flies, cockroaches and bedbugs, so worm eggs can end up on bread and cooked food if left uncovered.
Many are sure that their pets cannot become infected, because they do not leave the house. And how many infections that are waiting in the wings in the ground, grass, water, we ourselves bring home on our shoes!
Remember how curious animals, and especially kittens, always explore our shoes and then lick themselves - this is the source of infection. By the way, kittens can become infected with helminths through the milk of a nursing mother.
Evidence of helminthiasis is vomiting and rapid weight loss. This is a consequence of damage to the intestinal mucosa, as well as other organs of the animal.
All this, combined with toxic secretions, leads to weakened health of the animal, and in especially severe cases, to death due to blockage or rupture of the intestines.
A person can easily become infected even from a domestic cat. Their bodies are susceptible to infection by more than 82 types of worms, 32 of which can be transmitted to humans.
The invasion manifests itself with a number of symptoms depending on how many parasites and what helminths have proliferated in the animal’s body. If there are not many worms, then the infection may not manifest any symptoms at all.
Most often, helminthiasis is characterized by the following symptoms:
- diarrhea or constipation or their alternation;
- vomiting, and in case of severe damage - vomiting with blood;
- severe itching in the anus, which causes cats to rub this area on the floor;
- the appearance of individual segments or fragments of worms or whole worms in the feces or on the fur in the anal area;
- the appearance of blood or mucus in the stool;
- bloating of the abdomen, which becomes round;
- rapid weight loss;
- weak or, conversely, increased appetite;
- difficulty breathing and cough;
- hair loss;
- rapid fatigue;
- retarded growth and development in kittens;;
- on the mucous membranes – yellowness or pallor;
- In pregnant cats, worms can cause spontaneous miscarriage or premature birth.
In some cases, convulsions and paralysis of the hind limbs are possible.
Folk remedies for worms in cats: how to quickly remove them
Almost every cat owner is faced with the problem of infecting their pet with worms.
All animals are susceptible to helminthiasis, including those who constantly live in an apartment. The eggs of the parasites are brought by the owner on street shoes; they are acquired through contaminated food or through contact with other animals. Fleas often act as carriers of helminthiasis.
It is necessary to periodically treat your pet against parasites to prevent infection.
Cats often become infected with helminthiasis Loading...
At the slightest suspicion of helminthic infestation, it is recommended to check the cat for the presence of parasites and begin treatment.
It involves the use of medications. Along with them, you can use folk remedies.
Symptoms
Signs that should alert a pet owner include:
- Loss of appetite.
- Animal emaciation.
- Weakness and apathy.
- The presence of mucus and blood in the stool.
- Itching in the anal area.
- Dulling of fur.
- Indigestion, constipation, diarrhea.
In severe cases, seizures and paralysis are possible. The danger is represented by intoxication that develops as a result of the vital activity of parasites. It occurs especially quickly in kittens. Another serious complication is intestinal blockage caused by a ball of worms.
Types of helminths in cats
There are several types of parasites that affect pets:
- Nematodes. Roundworms are considered the most common helminths found in cats. Some species reach a length of 10 cm. More often, animals become infected with hookworm, the size of which does not exceed 2 cm. They feed on blood, which threatens the development of anemia.
- Trematodes (flukes) are flatworms. The main location is the liver and lungs. Symptoms are usually very mild, so the infection is not detected immediately. By infecting the lungs, worms cause coughing. Having settled in the liver, the parasites disrupt its functioning.
- Tapeworms. Some representatives reach 70 cm in length. The body consists of many segments. They use the cat's body as an intermediate host. The tape parasite can be detected visually - on the animal’s fur near the anus there are segments that resemble grains of rice in appearance.
The greatest harm to cats is caused by roundworms, which are capable of parasitic activity in the intestines, liver and multiply in large numbers.
Medicines for worms
If you suspect worms, your cat should be shown to a doctor. After the examination has been carried out and the type of parasites has been determined, treatment with medications is prescribed. You cannot treat yourself without knowing what helminths the animal is infected with.
Today there is a wide selection of effective anthelmintic products for cats. They are produced in different forms. It is most convenient to use drops applied to the withers. When giving a deworming tablet to a kitten, you need to make sure that it swallows it.
The suspension is injected into the animal's mouth using a syringe with a dispenser. The advantage of medications is the rapid removal of parasites from the body. Within half an hour they can be detected in the stool. Most medications are taken once, which is very convenient.
For preventive purposes, you can repeat the dose after 2 weeks.
It is important to follow the dosage recommended by your doctor. Exceeding it may cause poisoning.
There are special preparations for kittens, so you cannot use products intended for adult animals for deworming.
Recommended deworming medications for cats
The most effective are drugs based on chemical antiparasitic substances. Typically, a veterinarian prescribes the following medications:
- Pyrantel, Milbemax. They have a paralyzing effect on round helminths, as a result of which the latter are eliminated from the body. Thus, intoxication is eliminated.
- Praziquantel is effective against the fluke that attacks the lungs. Fenalidon and Fenasal are prescribed against flatworms.
- Detrazine allows you to quickly get rid of roundworms.
Opisthorchiasis requires complex treatment.
Basic rules for giving medicine to a cat: any medications must be fed before meals; it is important to strictly follow the prescribed dosage; sometimes it may be necessary to cleanse the intestines before taking the medicine; After 14 days, the anthelmintic drug is given again.
If the animal refuses to eat a tablet with food, it can be given forcibly - placed on the root of the tongue so that the cat is forced to swallow the medicine. Another option is to knead and, after stirring with a small amount of water, inject the solution into the mouth using a syringe.
When are medications contraindicated?
In some cases, worms in cats cannot be treated with medication. Medical therapy is not prescribed:
- Kittens less than 3 weeks old.
- Pregnant and lactating cats.
- Animals with additional diseases.
When using anthelmintic drugs, it is important to read the indications for use
The doctor may not allow deworming due to the individual characteristics of the animal.
Folk remedies for parasites
Traditional medicine will help rid your pet of worms. There are many recipes that are effective against helminthiasis and are absolutely safe for the health of the animal. They can be used for small kittens and pregnant cats. The only drawback is the lengthy treatment.
The most famous anti-worm remedy is garlic. One clove per day is enough for a cat. Garlic is crushed and given along with food daily for a week.
A herbal decoction prepared from tansy and wormwood flowers has a good antiparasitic effect. Mix 2 tablespoons of each component and pour 250 ml of boiling water. Give your cat 3 tablespoons in the morning for three days.
Pumpkin seeds are the most popular remedy for the treatment of helminthiasis. You can prepare an infusion from them: peel 300 g of seeds, keeping the shell, crush, add 50 ml of water and 15 g of honey. Feed the resulting mixture to the pet for an hour, after 30 minutes give an enema.
Grind 5 g of seeds, add the same amount of pork fat (can be replaced with sunflower oil) and give the cat a drink. You need to do this for 5 days in a row. Before treatment, allow the animal to fast for a while.
Onion infusion. Cut the onion into 4 parts, add a glass of hot water and feed the cat for a week.
Garlic can be used for enemas
An enema of garlic tincture helps get rid of parasites in a cat. To prepare the solution, chop 6 cloves of garlic and add a glass of water. Let it brew for 2 hours.
It is necessary to use the listed products only after consulting a doctor.
How can you not treat helminthic infestation?
More and more people are trying to use folk remedies for worms in cats. It is important not to resort to dubious methods. One of them is the use of celandine, which is unacceptable and very dangerous for the health of the pet. The high content of alkaloids in this plant allows it to be classified as poisonous.
Prevention of worms in cats
Treatment for parasites may not be required if you follow simple safety rules:
- Do not feed your cat raw meat and fish. It is necessary to boil them thoroughly.
- The cat's litter box must be kept clean. It should be washed after each time your pet uses the toilet.
- Regularly treat your cat for fleas.
- Carry out preventive anthelmintic treatment periodically.
- Place outdoor shoes in a special closet.
- Keep the doormat clean.
A bell hung around a pet's neck will not allow it to catch a bird or mouse, which are often the source of infection.
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Treating cats for garlic poisoning.
The success of treatment depends greatly on how much time has passed since the cat ate the garlic. If this has happened recently, drugs that induce vomiting, such as 3% hydrogen peroxide (hydrogen peroxide), are prescribed. This allows you to remove all the garlic remaining in the stomach and prevent additional harmful substances from entering the blood. A gastric lavage may also be performed to ensure that all toxins are removed from the stomach.
Your veterinarian may also prescribe activated charcoal, which absorbs toxins, preventing them from entering the bloodstream and causing further damage.
The veterinarian will need to monitor the cat's condition to determine whether it needs supportive care such as intravenous fluids or oxygen therapy. Intravenous fluids are given to prevent dehydration that is caused by the nausea and diarrhea associated with garlic poisoning in cats.
If garlic sprays or homeopathic remedies have been used in your cat's skin care, your veterinarian will need to wash the cat thoroughly to remove any remaining toxins.
How to get an animal to take medicine
It is most convenient to give a suspension. If you still choose tablets, then you need to crush them, stir, add a little water and put them into a syringe without a needle.
The cat will offer active resistance, so the easiest way is to wrap it in a blanket, so that only its head is outside, so as not to scratch it, press it towards you, unclench its jaws and inject liquid with a syringe.
Then clamp the animal's jaws and stroke its throat (this will provoke a swallowing reflex), and the medicine will reach its destination. Some people mix the crushed tablet with food, but in this case there is no guarantee that the entire dose will be eaten.
4-5 hours after taking the deworming remedy, it is necessary to give a sorbent: the dose is prescribed depending on the age and body weight of the animal (from 0.5 to 1.5 tablets). Coal can be replaced with enterosgel according to the instructions.
Make sure that the cat's intestines work; if this does not happen quickly, use a laxative syrup. This is necessary to completely get rid of dead worms and their decay products.
