Parasites

Internal Parasites

Roundworms 

One of the most common type of internal parasites found in pets are called Roundworms.
Symptoms include:

Some dogs are able to develop a resistance while cats may be susceptible to getting these parasites throughout their life due to exposure to eggs in the soil, from eating infected rodents or wildlife or their natural immunity has broken down.. A healthy mother may produce young that contain many of these internal parasites because the mother had dormant larvae which were stimulated to move to the uterus and mammary glands.

Whipworms

The whipworm gets its name from the whip shape of the adult worms. Each female can produce more than ten thousand eggs each day. The eggs may take up to three weeks to become infective.

Symptoms include:

An animal can become infected by ingesting the eggs in contaminated soil or food. Once a host has swallowed the eggs, the eggs hatch in the small intestine and make their way to the large intestine where it reaches maturity. The heads of the adults are embedded in the cells that line the intestine.

The whipworm eggs are passed in the host's feces. They are very durable in that they can resist freezing and stay alive in their environment for many years.

Hookworms

The hookworm gets its name from the hook-like teeth located in its mouth. A common hookworm found in cats is called Ancylostoma tubaeform and can be found all around the world. A cat can become infected with hookworm more so in the summer than in the winter.

A cat usually becomes infected by ingestion. Beetles and mice can also be a carrier. The larvae may also penetrate the cat's skin. With penetration, the larvae work their way to the lungs by way of the blood stream.  The animal then coughs them up and swallows the larvae which will find their way to the small intestine where they will continue their development. They attach themselves to the lining of the intestine and suck the blood causing hemorrhages. Even when the hookworm moves to a new location, the old one may continue to bleed causing blood loss.

Female hookworms can produce ten thousand to twenty five thousand eggs per day depending on the species. The eggs are passed in the feces. It takes about two days for the eggs to hatch once they have passed in the feces. The larvae will become infective in about 5 days after hatching ready to penetrate another hosts' skin.

The eggs and larvae are fairly durable and can survive in the environment for about a year. Both are prone to freezing and drying out but the larvae are sensitive to sunlight. Premises require disinfecting and plenty of sunlight.

Treatments for your pet include oral and injectable drugs. The vet will also have to treat the animals blood to bring it back to normal levels.

Tapeworms

The tapeworm is another common intestinal parasite found in the intestines of the adult cat. There are many types that affect cats. Each has a different life cycle but all have an intermediate host such as fleas or lice. The cat cannot re-infect itself because a part of every tapeworm's life cycle is spent in the intermediate host. The most common feline tapeworm is called Dipylidium caninum because the flea is the intermediate host.

Tapeworms have numerous segments and each tapeworm varies in length. The segments have reproductive organs that produce eggs. The segments can be found in the stool or on the underside of your cat's tail. They look like pieces of rice. When fresh they are white and as they dry up the turn brown. In order for the life cycle to continue, the segments dry up and the eggs are released. You may notice these small grains at the base and the underside of the cats tail.

The eggs are only release when the segments are destroyed in the bowel. These eggs may be swallowed by the intermediate host, the flea.  The flea larvae that are moving around your cats fur, usually around the tail and anal area swallow the tapeworm eggs that were shed into the cat's fur by the segments that were in the cats fur and have dries out. The adult flea will develop larval forms known as cysts in its ovary. The cat may swallow the flea containing the cysts and become infected with the tapeworm. Good flea control for your cat and its surroundings will help eliminate the problem as well as veterinary care.

Coccidia

Coccidia are protozoan parasites that live in the cells of the lining of the intestine. Cats usually become infected with coccidia by coming in contact with the stool of other infected cats. Oocysts (immature coccidia) are present in the stool of an infected cat. These cysts mature and if another cat swallows these cysts the new cat becomes infected. 

Symptoms of coccidia are: 

If your cat has or had coccidia you will also want to disinfect your home with a diluted bleach solution to kill any cysts that may still be present in the environment. You can also help stop the spread of coccidia by keeping a clean litter box and removing any fecal material in the box as soon as possible. Such cysts can survive in the environment and keep re-infecting your cats for a long time to come. The most common coccidia does not affect people. However there are some rare forms of coccidia which can infect humans, but these are rare.

External Parasites

Fleas

 The common cat flea is called Ctenocephalus felis. Fleas are wingless parasites that like to suck the blood of your pet so that they can lay their eggs. The worst time of year for fleas is usually between the months of May through November. In warmer climates, the flea season is longer. Fleas are a nuisance to your pet. They irritate the skin which may lead to dermatitis and infection, if its a small kitten it can become severely anemic or die as a result of blood loss or your cat can become infected with tapeworm if they swallow a flea during self grooming.

Cats usually get fleas from coming into contact with other animals who have fleas or an environment infested with fleas. Fleas are not host specific. The can jump several inches onto a new host. They have a very complex life cycle which includes egg, larvae, pupae and finally emerge as an adult. The life cycle can last several months depending on the conditions of the environment.

Flea Life Cycle

A female flea jumps onto your pet because she needs a drink of blood so that she can lay her eggs. The eggs fall off your pet and land on your pet's bed, into cracks in the floor, onto your furniture, under appliances, in your carpet or on your yard. In a few days, the eggs hatch into larvae. These larvae feed on any debris that they can find. it could be the dandruff from your pet, dust, mold, hair or flea excrement. The larvae will remain at this stage for anywhere from ten to two hundred days depending on the environment. Then the larvae spin a cocoon around themselves and in another 10 to two hundred days  they emerge as a full grown adults ready to start the cycle all over again.

 Unless the infestation is very bad, you may not see the adult fleas themselves. The flea population consists of 50% eggs, 35% larvae, 10% pupae and 5% adults. If you suspect your cat has fleas, check your pet for flea dirt. Flea dirt is actually flea feces, made up mainly of blood sucked from the pet that is eliminated through the flea's digestive system as dried blood. If you spray the flea dirt with water and it turns bloody, your pet has fleas and immediate attention is required. Not only must you treat your pet, but also your house.

Treatment

If you discover your cat has fleas, call your veterinarian. They will be up to date on the latest safest most effective means of flea treatment for your pet and will advise you on treating your house as well. Prevention is the key. It is best to protect your pet against fleas before the flea season starts. 

There are a number of treatments available for your pet. There are collars, sprays, mousses and shampoos. Personally, I prefer the treatments that last at least a month and don't require too much fuss. There is a new one on the market which is an injectable which last six months called Program Injectable. The female flea who takes the blood of a pet who has been treated with Program Injectable, ingests a chemical that will prevent her eggs from hatching. Another is a pre measured liquid dose, depending on the age and weight of your cat, that you apply onto your pet's skin, at the base of your cat's neck once a month called Advantage. The solution quickly spreads over your pet's skin and lasts one month. This treatment kills the fleas that jump onto your pet before they have a chance to lay their eggs.

It is equally important to treat your house for fleas. Ask your veterinarian for advice. Vacuum all carpets, furniture and floors including cracks and crevices thoroughly. Vacuum and wash your pet's bedding in hot water and dry on hot cycle. Do the same for your sheets and blankets if your cat likes to sleep on your bed. Empty and disinfect the litter box and the scooper. You may want to apply a special flea spray to carpets and furniture but best to check with your veterinarian. Discard the vacuum bag once you are finished. Remember, prevention is the key.

Ear Mites

The common ear mite is called Otodectes cynotis. This mite causes the most common infections of the outer ear canal. It is a very small eight legged bug that lives and breeds in the ear canal of your cat or dog.  Usually it affects outdoor cats who come in direct contact with other cats who are host to the little critters. These mites can be found in the ear canal and also in the hair around the ears and on the tail which lies against the ears when the cat is sleeping in a curled position.

Symptoms include:

If you suspect your cat has ear mites, have your cat checked by your veterinarian.. The vet will be able to make a proper diagnosis and advise you on what treatment is required for your cat. Like fleas, the cats bedding and your house will also require thorough cleansing.