Symptoms and Treatment of Intestinal Worms in Cats and Dogs

Kittens Should be Dewormed at an Early Age - Kay Cahill, Flickr

Intestinal parasites can create serious health problems for cats and dogs, particularly very young or elderly pets, so infestations should be treated before they become too serious.

Symptoms of Worms in Cats and Dogs

Intestinal worms that infect cats and dogs include roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, and whipworms. Pets infected with worms may have some or all of the following symptoms:

• Bloody stools
• Constipation
• Coughing
• Diarrhea
• Lack of appetite
• Poor coat
• Potbelly (especially in kittens and puppies)
• Scooting (dragging the hind end along a carpet or grass, especially common in dogs)
• Stomach pain
• Weakness
• Weight loss (or failure to gain weight in kittens and puppies)
• Vomiting (which may include vomiting up worms in the case of severe infestations)

Pets that are infested with a small number of worms may show no symptoms at all.

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Diagnosis and Treatment of Worms in Cats and Dogs

Deworming is a simple procedure and relatively inexpensive. If worms are diagnosed via a stool sample, a deworming medication can be administered to eliminate them (such medications often require more than one application). Depending on the type of worms, medications are available as pills, liquids, pastes, chewables, topical treatments, and injectables.
If pets are treated at the first sign of worm infection, prognosis is good. Even very young animals are unlikely to die unless treatment is delayed until an infection is severe.

How to Prevent Intestinal Worm Infection in Cats, Dogs, and Humans

To reduce the risk of pets and people being infected with intestinal worms:

• Deworm breeding females before they become pregnant and during late pregnancy (consult a veterinarian for recommendations on safe products to administer during pregnancy).
• Deworm kittens and puppies at a relatively early age (recommendations for age of first deworming vary – ask a veterinarian for advice).
• Deworm pets if there are any symptoms of infestation, particularly pets that go outdoors, as they are at far higher risk for infection.
• Keep litter boxes clean – scoop promptly (worms are not transmitted by fresh feces) and scrub regularly with bleach (be sure to rinse thoroughly afterward, as bleach is toxic to cats). Wash hands well after scooping or scrubbing the litter box.
• Don’t leave pet waste lying around outdoors – scoop dog waste into a plastic bag and dispose of it as soon as possible.
• Wash your hands after touching or digging in grass or soil and before eating, and teach children to do likewise.
• Fit covers to outdoor sandboxes to keep animals from using them as toilets.
• Use a bleach solution to regularly clean household surfaces where pets walk or lie.
• Wash pet bedding regularly.
• Keep cats indoors, or at least reduce the likelihood of their catching infected prey by attaching bells to their collars.
• Don’t let dogs eat or lick carcasses of dead animals.
• Wear gloves when gardening.
• Keep dogs out of cat litter.
• Wash produce thoroughly before eating.
• Don’t eat or feed pets raw meat (or at least freeze it for several weeks before feeding to reduce the risk of infection).
• Prevent or eradicate fleas, which act as hosts for tapeworms – see Natural Flea Control for safe, non-toxic options.
• Don’t walk barefoot on beaches or lie directly on the sand where dogs are allowed to defecate. Hookworms can burrow through human skin. This usually just causes itchy, irritating lesions, but occasionally these parasites manage to go deeper into the body, causing serious health problems.

For information on how pets contract worms and how these worms may be transmitted to people, see Roundworms, Tapeworms, Hookworms, and Whipworms in Cats and Dogs.
To learn about other common parasites that afflict pets, see Heartworm Infection in Cats and Dogs and Toxoplasmosis and Pregnancy.
Despite its name, ringworm is actually a fungal infection. See Ringworm in Cats for more information.
References:

• Barchas, E., DVM. (27 August 1999). “The Petstuff Online Newsletter: Hookworms and Why Dogs Are Kept off Beaches.” Dr-Dan.com.
• Barchas, E., DVM. (2010). “Tapeworms in Cats and Dogs.” Dr-Dan.com.
• Bower, J., & Bower, C., Drs. (1998). The Cat Owner’s Problem Solver. Pleasantville, NY: Reader’s digest Association, Inc./Andromeda Oxford Limited.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (15 July 2008). “Dipylidium Infection: Dog and Cat Flea Tapeworm.” CDC.gov.
• Feline Advisory Bureau. (2008). “Worming Your Cat.” FabCats.org.
• Fogle, B.American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. (1993). ASPCA Complete Dog Care Manual. New York, NY: DK Publishing Inc.
• Mar Vista Animal Medical Center. (2010). “Roundworms in Cats and Kittens,” “Tapeworm,” and “Whipworms.” MarvistaVet.com.
• McLeod, L., DVM. (2010). “Roundworms in Cats,” “Whipworms in Dogs and Cats,” and “Hookworms in Cats.” About.com.
• Mowbray-Cashen, G.; Barkai-Ronayne, A.; & Gilkerson, J., Drs., Truro Veterinary Hospital. (n.d.). “Feline Roundworm Infection.” TruroVet.com.
• Nash, H., DVM. (2010). “Cat Roundworms (Ascarids, Toxascaris leonina, Toxocara cati),” “Tapeworms of Cats,” “Hookworm Infection, Prevention and Treatment in Dogs,” “Tapeworms,” and “Whipworms (Trichuris Serrata).”PetEducation.com.
• PetMD.com. “Whipworms in Cats” and “Whipworms in Dogs.”