With their sharp and biting mouthparts, hookworms pose a serious health risk to cats if not tackled in time. As intestinal parasites, they can be burdensome for cats and could lead to anemia and loss of weight. As you read on, you will learn about how cats get hookworm infection, its signs and how to treat them.
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Signs of Hookworms in Cats
Research shows that hookworm is the most common helminth in cats. This worm causes a lot of issues in the digestive tract of cats due to their feeding habit. As they feed on blood off the intestinal lining, they release anticoagulants which prevent blood clotting leading to blood loss. Spreading through blood vessels to the lungs and heart, hookworm could lead to further complications.
My neighbor once adopted a stray cat and noticed it had sores and was always itching. After a proper examination and series of tests were conducted, her cat was diagnosed with a hookworm infection.
Identifying signs of hookworm in your cats is easy but could be demanding for one who is not always around their cat. With the Petcube Camera setup in your home, you can easily watch out for signs of hookworm infection in your cats even when you are away. Most hookworm infection in cats would show signs such as:
- Itching
- Rough coat
- Paleness/Anemia
- Loss of weight
- Diahrrhea
- Coughing
- Blood in stool (Melena)
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Skin sores
How Do Cats Get Hookworms
Cats get infected when they swallow hookworm larvae either by grooming their paws or by active penetration of the larvae into the skin. These larvae emerge from eggs produced by adult female hookworms which are passed out with the cat’s stool. When cats eat materials or soil contaminated with hookworm larvae, they could get infected.
Kittens that are still breastfeeding are also at risk of getting infected with hookworm from their mother’s milk. To prevent this, kittens should be dewormed up to 4 times as early as 2 weeks of age.
Some of the swallowed hookworm larvae during grooming could find their way to the trachea where they are coughed up and swallowed. Getting to the digestive tract, these larvae become established, mature and lay eggs. This process could take up to 2-3 weeks and the cycle repeats itself.
Similarly, hookworm larvae that penetrate the skin somehow find their way in the trachea, get coughed up and swallowed. They end up in the digestive system where they continue the life cycle. As a cat owner, a hookworm infected cat puts you at risk of getting infected, especially in an overcrowded or dirty environment.
“My 5 year old female cat got a hookworm infection with symptoms of bloody stool after staying with two other cats who are infected”, - Reddit User
How to Treat Hookworms in Cats
Treating hookworm in cats is easy, especially when reported on time. A simple deworming can control hookworm infection in cats and keep it at bay when done routinely. Aside from deworming with an antihelminthic, other signs are treated symptomatically.
Symptoms like loss of appetite, weight loss and diarrhea would be curtailed with an appetite booster and an anti-microbial. The cat can also be given protectants and iron supplements to treat stomach sores and alleviate anemia. The choice of medication, dosage, duration and other treatment inclusions like special feeding can only be decided by the Veterinarian upon examining the cat.
It’s advisable to repeat hookworm infection treatment after about 2 weeks in order to kill intestinal stages of hookworms and reduce egg production rate. This will help control the infection and prevent re-infection. It is also important to complete a hookworm infection treatment to prevent relapse or reinfection.
“Hygiene is an important factor in hookworm control and prevention, cat stool should be disposed of properly and you should always wash your hands after touching cat poop.”, - Dr. Sonja Cox
Cat owners can also get infected with hookworm from their cat, especially with the A. braziliense species. A study demonstrated that cats contributed to about 20% of hookworm infection in humans. To prevent this, cats should be dewormed and treated for hookworm as soon as it is noticed.
Conclusion
Hookworm infection in cats is not life threatening if reported and treated on time. The condition only gets complicated when the signs are not noticed on time or reported to the Veterinaria late. With regular deworming, a clean environment and a regular checkup with the Veterinarian, your cat would be free from hookworms.
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