Lung Worms In Cats Treatment
Another type of worm that is on the increase in the uk is lungworm which cats can catch from coming into contact with slugs snails or frogs however this type of worm is very uncommon in cats.
Lung worms in cats treatment. What is the treatment for lungworm in cats. Treating feline lungworms based on research selamectin commonly sold as the brand name revolution is effective in treating both kinds of lungworms found in cats however research is anecdotal. Lungworms are treatable with anti parasitic anthelminthic medications such as. This may help to curb her natural hunter instinct and keep her from hunting and eating rodents while outside.
Lungworm infections can be difficult to treat but there is evidence that appropriate antiparasitic drugs are effective. Your family veterinarian and or a board certified veterinary internal medicine. Your veterinarian will recommend the best type for the cat rsquo s specific infection. Physical examination lung auscultation and history.
Each parasite is sensitive to different drugs that are either administered orally or as spot on topical medications. Commonly prescribed drugs include fenbendazole praziquantel emodepside selamectin and moxidectin. Several worming medications can be prescribed to treat lungworm however treatment can be challenging and it may be necessary to continue the anti worming medication for up to 8 weeks. T brevior and a abstrusus have a similar bio logical cycle figure 2.
Provide plenty of indoor play time. Adult females lay eggs that develop within the lungs. Complete blood count cbc examination of fluid from lungs tracheal wash treatment. Treatment of lungworms in cats lungworms can generally be eliminated through extensive treatment with medications.
It may be necessary to continue antiparasitic treatment for up to 2 months. If your cat does go outside frequently try to keep an eye on her to ensure she doesn t eat anything that she is not supposed to. In cats because of the relative infrequency of infection diagnosis may be made only after failure of antibiotic therapy to improve the condition. Wildcat and in felis chaus the jungle cat 6has recently been reported 2 5 adult worms of t brevior vary from 5 13 mm in length and 294 430 µm in width and inhabit the bronchi and bronchioles of infected hosts.
Most cats that contract lung worms will contract them from the various critters they run into outside. Fecal examination for eggs. Aside from supervising your cat s. In some cases more than one anti parasitic medication will be necessary.
Treatment of cats with lungworm infections is relatively straightforward. Very rarely do cats require lung surgery to remove a segment of lung irreparably damaged by ruptured parasitic cyst s. The best way to prevent a lung worm infection is to keep your cat indoors. Larvae that are passed out in the cat.
Because in this specific case the cat did not respond to more traditional treatments the owner opted to treat with revolution.