My cat has had a pretty big appetite lately. I'm feeding her canned food mostly but very good pet food including salmon and tuna. I'm concerned she may have tapeworms since she's been eating about 6 tablespoons of food a day, maybe 7. I was so concerned that I bought one of the over the counter worm pills and gave it to her which didn't seem to do anything. I have not felt any fleas on her but do see her scratching now and then. She always goes to the bathroom outside so I can't check her stools ,but I've not seen any worms in her butt. My other cat is very big and eating half of the food she is but I think he's also getting food elsewhere in the neighborhood since he is quite a charmer.
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Tapeworms?
- Thread starter KathyS
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- Joined
- Feb 23, 2017
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Hey Kathy!
How's her activity and her weight?
To your knowledge, does she hunt and/or eat her prey?
BTW-Using a special "flea comb" is a great way to rule out (and naturally "treat") fleas.
What's your kitty's age?
How's her activity and her weight?
To your knowledge, does she hunt and/or eat her prey?
BTW-Using a special "flea comb" is a great way to rule out (and naturally "treat") fleas.
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2017
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- 1,245
What a great example of the value of diagnostics.
I would not recommend over the counter dewormers unless you know specifically what worms are present. There are a lot of reasons for eating a lot. When you say her appetite increased "lately" - how long has it been? Sometimes, seasonally, cats will eat more. Increased appetite, especially with weight loss (is she gaining weight with the increased appetite, or losing weight?) can indicate endocrine diseases.
When cats have enough tapeworms to increase their appetite dramatically you will see the tape segments on the stool, around the anus, or even on your furniture. They may be plump like a grain of rice or dried out little crescents. Rarely will the veterinarian find the eggs in the stool.
Many people leap to the conclusion that itchy animals must have fleas and this is very often not so. As Dr. Jeff suggested, use a flea comb daily for a week to see if there are any fleas. You can also gently scratch at the tail head and around the neck while she is standing on something white (a paper towel, pillow case, cloth, etc). If some very black coffee ground looking spots come off AND they turn a damp clot reddish - that is flea poop. If none of those - then fleas are not causing the itchiness.
Download and read Fleas Be Gone for lots more on fleas.
And have you created your holistic health care team? Now would be a great time to do that. Go to "select", read and follow the links.
Dr. Christina
I would not recommend over the counter dewormers unless you know specifically what worms are present. There are a lot of reasons for eating a lot. When you say her appetite increased "lately" - how long has it been? Sometimes, seasonally, cats will eat more. Increased appetite, especially with weight loss (is she gaining weight with the increased appetite, or losing weight?) can indicate endocrine diseases.
When cats have enough tapeworms to increase their appetite dramatically you will see the tape segments on the stool, around the anus, or even on your furniture. They may be plump like a grain of rice or dried out little crescents. Rarely will the veterinarian find the eggs in the stool.
Many people leap to the conclusion that itchy animals must have fleas and this is very often not so. As Dr. Jeff suggested, use a flea comb daily for a week to see if there are any fleas. You can also gently scratch at the tail head and around the neck while she is standing on something white (a paper towel, pillow case, cloth, etc). If some very black coffee ground looking spots come off AND they turn a damp clot reddish - that is flea poop. If none of those - then fleas are not causing the itchiness.
Download and read Fleas Be Gone for lots more on fleas.
And have you created your holistic health care team? Now would be a great time to do that. Go to "select", read and follow the links.
Dr. Christina
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