CHE Standards

Rhonda Said:

Skinny Cat whose black hair is turning red?

We Answered:

She could have some sort of disease such as feline leukemia (FeLV) or feline aids (FIV) both of which cause cats to become unhealthy and skinny before eventually killing them. Unfortunately, there is no cure and the diseases are common especially in ferals because they are much more exposed. If you do manage to get her in to the vet, thats probably the first thing they'll recommend. Worms could be a possible cause, but they don't usually make them really sick unless they are extremely infected. She could have something going on with her kidneys/liver.. who knows. If the FeLV/FIV combo test comes up negative, it would probably be a good idea to have bloodwork run if you're willing to spend the money. Like I said, feral cats are a lot more exposed to disease, so sometimes there's not much you can do for them.

Lee Said:

Can pinworms cause an increase in bowel movements?

We Answered:

yes they live in the bowel and wriggle about and irritate it

Josephine Said:

Why do you sometimes find worms in freshly gathered rain water?

We Answered:

This is what is hapenning.Worms live in the soil or sand as for your case.There is aiespace in the soil but the moment it rains the airspaces within the soil are filled up with water so they(worms) come out to have air/ breathe fresh air.That the theory behind these worms coming out when it rains.

Harvey Said:

Reaccuring worms in indoor cat?

We Answered:

Save the worm in a jar of water or alcohol so the vet can identify it. It sounds like it's probably a roundworm or some similar nematode parasite. (Of course, if it's rice-grain small, it may still be more tapeworms - the segments are squishy and can change shape a little.)

Unless your vet used a dewormer that combined multiple medications in one dose (like Profender or Drontal), medications used to kill tapeworms have no effect on roundworms and nematodes. So these roundworms may have been there the whole time.

The other problem with roundworms is that cats and dogs need two doses to get rid of them. The first dose kills all the adults, but any immature worms they may have survive the first treatment. So the vet typically waits two weeks - long enough for all the larvae to grow up - and then gives the second dose. So if the vet did not suspect roundworms at the time, he may not have prescribed the second, necessary dose. In this case, even a combination dewormer like Drontral wouldn't get rid of all the roundworms.

So that's one reason why your cat would still have worms. The other reason is that your cat got re-infected again since its last deworming. Where are the worms coming from? Well, if it's roundworms, then the only three possibilities are
1) Ingestion (including grooming behaviors) or stool or stool-contaminated material. The stool would have to be at least three days old and come from a cat or dog (or wild critter) infected with roundworms. This is pretty unusual if your cats live indoors and you are good about cleaning the litter box.
2) Ingestion of a secondary host that was carrying roundworm larvae - basically most rodents.
3) Leftover from kitten infections. Roundworms cross the placenta and pass through the milk, so just about every kitten has them. If you cat was never properly dewormed as a kitten, it could still have worms. However this would be kind of rare, too.

Now if it's tapeworms, then there are only two possibilties, depending on which of the two species of tapeworm your cat got:
1) Fleas. If the tapeworms are Dipylidium caninum, then they can only infect a cat or dog who has swallowed an infected flea. They just don't have any other secondary host, and it's not possible for them to go directly from one primary host to another (e.g. directly from cat-to-cat).
2) Rodents. If the tapeworms are Taenia species, then THEIR secondary hosts are rodents. Again, primary hosts (like your cats) HAVE to consume a secondary host to get infected with tapeworms.

So I'm afraid what it sounds like is that the most likely cause of the worms is either fleas or rodents living in your house. Fleas DO happen from time to time, even in indoor pets - they get tracked in from outside when the humans come in and out. And cats are such good self-groomers that sometimes fleas are hard to spot. If it IS tapeworms, ask your vet to look at a segment under the microscope and identify whether it is Dipylidium or Taenia.

Or you could just start treating your cats with Revolution (a spot-on treatment for parasites) every month. This would keep accidental fleas from becoming a problem, as well as prevent roundworms.

Seth Said:

I am thinking of having 2 kittens/cats but the last time we had 2 we all broke out in ring worm.?

We Answered:

Ringworm is caused by a fungus. While it is very contagious, it is also very treatable, in people and in cats, by using fungicide. Other pets can get it as well. Did the last cats have symptoms of ringworm? If you notice any pet getting a roundish, itchy patch, where hair is lost that doesn't seem to heal it could be ringworm. Examine the two cats you plan to get closely, take them to a vet for a post-adoption exam. You can't get anything to prevent ringworm. Fleas and skin allergies are more common in cats than ringworm is. You should preventatively treat the cats once a month with a topical, such as revolution. Get routine vet care, vaccines, and spay and neuter and you should be good to go! Best wishes. Below is a link about ringworm in dogs, which also applies to cats.

Ryan Said:

My kitten has diarrhea, any suggestions?

We Answered:

Do not give your kitten any more of that OTC stuff, take her to the vet and get the shots. It is very easy to overdose a kitten.

Mark Said:

What is a good technical book to help me learn about basic medical diagnostics?

We Answered:

Clinical Methods
By
Hutchinson Bumford
is a small book of immense help.
You will have to read a few references given in the book also