Domestic Pets

Injury Guide

PARASITES IN CATS

Parasites are living creatures that live on or in another - at its expense. Steal nutrients, hold down weight gain and may cause chronic diarrhea,blood in the stool, anemia, skin disease, and heart disease as well as spreading bacterial,viral or protozoan diseases

Most live in cycles that carry them through a series of hosts.The objective of treatment is not only to destroy the adult parasite,but whenever possible to break the life cycle The parasites of domestic animals, fall into two clear-cut groups,internal - endoparasites and external (ectoparasites)

The consientious owner should be on the alert for signs of parasitism and follow a veterianrian's recommendation for routine examinations.In general the problem will be far less if a cat lives strictly indoors

The most frequently recognized internal parasites of cats are Tapeworms, Roundworms & Hookworms, all of which infest, the Small Intestines and if numerous,cause poor growth,weight loss, and often diarrhea and vomiting.Veterinarians can provide appropriate medication for all three

TAPEWORMS

Causes: These are aquired by swallowing fleas,or eating rodents or less often - raw freshwater fish

Description: They are flat, segmented worms many inches long.The sucking head is attached to the inner surface of the cat's droppings or on the fur about the anus as tiny white moving segments about half and inch long.When exposed to the air the segments dry and contact till they resemble grains of rice.Microscopic examination of stool cannot be counted on to reveal the presence of Tapeworm eggs

Treatment: The most important preventive measure is to keep cats and their environment free of fleas.Your veterinarian may advise that cats that regularly hunt and eat rodents should receive routine treatment whether or not segments ar seen in their droppings

ROUNDWORMS (ASCARIDS)

Description: Roundworms are slender,stringlike worms,yellowish white,several centimetres longThey are sometimes seen curled up in vomitus or droppings,but are most often diagnosed by the presence of typical eggs in a sample of stool

Symptoms: Heavy infestation,especially in kittens,cause potbellies,vomitting,diarrhea and weight loss

Causes: Ascarids may be acquired in several ways.Kittens swallow immature worms in an infected mother's milk.Older cats are infected by eating ripened eggs from other cat's droppings or by preying on mice,which may be carriers

Treatment: Medication may have to be given several times at suitable intervals before Ascsarids are entirely eliminated, repeated faecal examinations are advisable

HOOKWORMS

Description: Hookworms have a similar appearance to Ascarids, but are so small that they would be hard to see in any case,they usually remain firmly attached to the wall of the Intestines,where they suck so much blood that the host becomes severely Anemic and weak

Causes: They most likely to cause serious trouble or death in very young animals and in the warmer areas that favor transmission.With proper warmth and moisture,tiny larval worms hatch from the eggs in stool and either penetrate the host's skin to reach the intestine eventually or are swallowed directly.Mice may perhaps serve as carriers

Diagnosis: Hookworm infestation is diagnosed by identification of typical eggs in faeces obtained as fresh as possible,taken at once for veterinarian examination

Or refrigerated if delay is unavoidable

Droppings should be removed and litter pans cleaned every day.Instances of human skin infection (creeping eruption) have occured when litter pans were left neglected in warm houses

LESS COMMON PARASITES

LUNGWORM (AELUROSTRONGYLUS)

Symptoms: These parasitize the lung tissue itself and may cause coughing,wasting,severe Pneumonia and even death

Causes: They are acquired from eating carriers,among which are snails, slugs and mice.The parasitism is diagnosed by microscopic finding of typical larval worms or rarely eggs in faeces or sputum

Treatment: Is moderately successful

CAPILLARIA AEROPHILA

Location: These worms lives principally in the Windpipe and larger airways of the lung

Symptoms: It usually causes no severe symptoms other than coughing, which is fortunate,because no effective treatment is known

Causes: Cats are infected by swallowing eggs from the stool of infected cats or foxes.Since the eggs of this parasite - coughed up, swallowed and then eliminated in the stool - closely resemble those of the Whipworm of dogs, frequent erroneous diagnoses have been made of Whipworm in cats, although there is as yet no solid scientific evidence that canine parasite infests cats

TRICHINOSIS

Causes: Cats foraging in garbage and eating uncooked pork scraps,or preying on rodents that have done so, might become infected with Trichina laevae, but the parasite is probably in not present in Australia

HEARTWORM

This is still almost entirely a disease of dogs,but is reported in cats - aswell as in man - with increasing frequency.Most infections in cats are recognized only at autopsy,found in the blood of living cats

Causes & Precaution: Exposure to mosquitoes,which carry this parasite,can be minimized by keeping cats indoors after dusk

Treatment: And treatment was given with apparent success

FLUKES (TREMATODES)

Description: Flukes are f-shaped worms

Causes: Infestation is acquired when an animal eats intermediate hosts such as snails,shellfish and fish

Symptoms: The Flukes most often reported to cause disease are those infesting the lung,liver or pancreas.Characteristic Fluke eggs may be found in sputum,or faeces

Treatment: There has been little experience with the treatment

PROTOZOANS

Protozoans are one-celled organisms,visible only microscopically.The most important disease producers in cats are Coccidia & Toxoplasma

COCCIDIA

Causes: Kittens or young cats kept in large groups in catteries or pet shops, are the most likely to be parasitized.The infection arises from contamination of the environment by cat or dog faeces containing infective eggs (Oocysts)

When swallowed,these undergo further development in the lining cells of the Intestine,which then rapture, the stool containing blood as well as characteristic Oocysts

Symptoms: Lack of appetite,diarrhea and weight loss may lead to severe illness and occasionally death

Diagnosis: This parasitism can be diagnosed only by microscopic examination of stool

Treatment: Although the infection is spontaneously eliminated with time,several drugs are used in treatment and for a seriouslly ill cat, antidiarrheal medication and injectable fluids to correct dehydration and chemical imabalances

Reinfection can be prevented, if stringent sanitation is practiced- daily changing of litter, and cleaning of litter pans,cages and floors

TOXOPLASMA

This Protrozoan belongs to the same general group of parasites as the Coccidia,but differs in many ways.It infects a high proportion of warm-blooded animals and man worldwide but rarely causes illness.When illness does occur, it is usually so mild that it is not diagnosed.Only severe and fatal cases being identified

Causes: Although so many creatures can be infected, domestic and some wild cats seen to be the only species that complete the parasite's life cycle by transmitting infectious organisms (Oocysts) in their stool

Cats and other animals as well are infected by swallowing Oocysts from cat faeces, by preying on birds and rodents infected the same way and by eating uncooked or undercooked infected meat (mutton,pork,beef,fowl) and eggs

Roaches,flies and other insects contaminated by contact with cat faeces, are also a possible source of infection

Shedding of Oocysts in their stool begins between 3-40 days after infection,depending on how the infectiion was acquired, and continues for about 10-14 days.The Oocysts are not infectious when shed, but become so within 1-4 days, depending on environment,temperature and moisture.Under certain conditions Oocysts may remain infective in contaminated soil over a year

Diagnosis: Diagnosis of the infection is by microscopic examination of faeces

Inoculation of faeces or other suspect tissue or body fluid into mice

Blood testing for anitbody

Microscopic demonstration of Toxoplama forms other than Oocysts in body fluids and tissues obtained at biopsy or autopsy

Symptoms: In the relatively few cats that become ill,the signs are myriad and vary in severity.

A fever that stubbornly resists anitbiotics is typical,and the white cell count is often below normal, sometimes causing confusion with Panleukopenia

Acuate illness may also affect the Liver and Pancreas,sometimes with Jaundice.Inflammation of the Intestine and associated Lymph Nodes may cause diarrhea in which Oocysts may be shed.The inner eye may become inflamed in both acute and chronic Toxoplasmosis.Infections of the Heart and brain tend to be chronic,the latter producing varied signs including convulsions, incoordination and personality change

Toxoplasmosis can be strongly suggested by any of these signs,but active infection can be positively diagnosed only by one or more laboratory tests

Treatment: If a cat sheds Oocysts unquestionably identified as those of Toxoplasma,it should be temporarily isolated and its faeces carefully disposed of for 2-3 weeks,after which the stool should be re-examined to determine if shedding has stopped.Oocyst shedding can be suppressed by mixing Sulfadiazine alone or together with Pyrimethamine in the food for 1-2 weeks.The faeces however should still be destroyed

The same drugs are used,together with supportive measures,for active disease,but early diagnosis and treatment are essential.Pneumonia, characterized by rapid labored breathing,is almost always rapidly fatal.Infections of the heart,eyes and nervous system is often stubborn and eeep-seated that adequate and prolonged drug treatment has fatal side effects

FLEAS

Fleas are common external parasites of cats,especially in warm weather or in warm climates.They are small (about 3mm long) but easily visible,hard,dark brown,rapidly moving and jumping insects and live in the host's fur- sucking blood from the skin for nourishment

Flea droppings,actual dried blood,appear as black grit.If this grit is evident in a cat's fur or on a light surface where it has been sitting or sleeping, it is good evidence that the cat needs treatment.When moistened the grit gives the red-brown colour of dried blood.Minute white eggs may also be present

Treatment: Use only insecticide preparation that is specifically labeled safe for cats and exactly according to directions.Repeated powdering or spraying , with brushing to remove the flea grit,usaully suffices.Almost never will you need to shampoo the cat

Flea collars: Made specifically for cats are usually effective in eliminating and preventing flea infestation.They have,however, certain disadvantages.They do not stretch, so they can be a hazard to outdoor cats.They may wear down the fur and especially if they are not aired two or three days before use,get wet, or are too tight, they may cause a severe,occasionally fatal dermatitis underneath

Occasional systemic disturbances such as nausea and incoordination occur.Some owners remove the fea collar before allowing a cat out alone and some remove them at regualr intervals for indoor cats as well.If you bear all these facts in mind and check your cat's collar daily, it can probable wear one without risk.If a cat does not tolerate a flea collar, a flea tag attached to an ordinary collar may sometimes be safely substituted.Your vet will be sure that a cat is not wearing a flea collar before he dispenses additional powerder or spray - nor will he give certain internal parasite medication to a cat wearing a collar

If tiny kittens have fleas,try to remove them by picking them off and crushing them between your fingernails.If the kittens are heavily infested,they may become severely Anemic and you should ask your vet how they may be safely de-fleaed

In getting rid of fleas,it is important to treat not only all cats and dogs, in a household, but also the animals' surroundings - their beds,floors and furniture where they lie.Fleas lay tiny white eggs which drop off the cat or dog, ripen for a variable period, and then hatch larvae that grow into adult flees which will get back onto the animals.If an area is badly infested, the fleas may bite humans too

Vacuuming is an effective way of removin flea eggs and larvae from floors, rugs and furniture.This should be combined with spraying of any other haunts of yur pets,garage,cellar and under the porch with a household insecticide.The pest should be excluded with the moist spray.Contrary to popular belief,cat and dog fleas ultimately can come only from other cats and dogs, or rarely other animals or man

LICE

Lice are exceedingly rare in cats and do not spread to humans or other animals

Description: They resembling minute flakes of dandruff that cling to the skin or hairs without moving, therefore they easily escape notice

Treatment: Preparations effective against fleas are usually effective against lice

TICKS

Ticks are far less apt to parasitize cats than dogs, but in areas and at seasons when ticks are unusually numerous in scrub & bushland,some may be found on cats

Description: Larger than fleas and easily felt by running the fingers carefully through a cat's coat,they are hard,flat 8 legged arachnids, which burrow with their head into the skin,the female sucking blood till she is enlarged many times over

Treatment: You can usually remove a tick,together with the head and mouth parts, by grasping it close to the skin and firmly pulling it away Do not use lighted cigarettes or matches,kerosene or gasoline

Flea collars and insecticide sprays and powders have some effectiveness in preventing or eliminating moderate infestation

Cats rarely need dipping

A rare complication of this parasitism is tick paralysis caused by a neurotoxin

Removal of the ticks may bring about recovery,but ani-tick serum is often required

TICK PARALYSIS

Symptoms: This condition usually begins with a sudden hindleg weakness and paralysis that spreads to the frontlegs, neck and finally the muscles of respiration.It is caused by the dog paralysis tick that are found in selective areas only.Careful protection of dogs in these areas is necesary to prevent tick infestation

Treatment: When paralysis occurs, the offending ticks must be removed and treatment with an intravenous injection of anit-tick serum by a vet is usually necessary

MANGE MITES

Mites can be distinguished only with a magnifiying glass or microscope.You can get different tipes e.g Ear & Head Mange

EAR MANGE (MITES)

Location: Since as many as 50% of all kittens and cats may have ear mites, the ears are of prime concern in maintaining a cat's health.The inside of a healthy ear is pale pink and shiny

Description: Accumulations of dry,dark brown, gritty material deep in the ear canal are usaully a sign of mites,pale parasites about the size of the tip of a pin

Symptoms: By Crawling about and sucking serum from the lining of the ear canal,mites cause the cat to shake its head and sometimes paw and scratch at its ears so violently that the skin is lacerated and bloody

Identifying: A magnifying glass or microscope is usually need for positive demonstaration of the presence of mites

Results: Neglected mite infestation can lead to secondary infection, possible perforation of the eardrum,middle-ear infection and even fatal meningitis.If one cat in a group is infected, other cats, and also dogs are almost certainly infected as well

Treatment: If your vet diagnosis Ear Mites,the ears will be given a thorough professional cleaning and follow-up treatment can be carried out by the owner

A few drops of any bland oil (paraffin,cooking) massaged into the ear twice a week for several weeks will suffocate and kill the mites.When the oil has softened and loosened the masses of brown debris,they may be removed by gentle probing with cotton buds

Preparations containing parasiticides are rarely necessary and may be irritating

Flea powder dusted lightly over the cat's body after cleaning destroys any mites that have been scattered from the ears into the fur

Ear cleaning stimulates a natural scratch reflex by the hind legs.If your cat is difficult to handle, wrap it tightly in a very large bath towel with only the head exposed.Have a helper grasp it firmly or immobilize it on your own lap between your knees.Taping the forefeet together, and the hind feet together with adhesive is still another restraining method

Ear Mites invariably parasitize both ears.If a cat has trouble of any sort in one ear only, there could be infection or a growth deep in the ear canal that requires prompt veterinary attention.A few cats suffer intermittently from an itchy bacterial infection characterized by brown discharge similar to that caused by mites, but it requires different treatment

HEAD MANAGE

Description: Is an itchy inflammation in which the skin becomes red,scratched and thickened and hairloss is lost - and is uncommon in cats.When it does occur, it is usaully in an adult tomcat, in which it may easily be confused with the thickening and scarring resulting from fights. When it reaches the advanced stage of heavy crusting of the face,eyelids and ears, it presents a startling appearance that connot be mistaken for anything else.Rarely it is encountered in litters of tiny kittens - in them, the entire body is involved

Treatment: Take note that any treatment that would be effective against parasites, is likely to be fatal in the kittens

NOTOEDRES CATI

Symptoms: Notoedres Cati does not affect dogs and causes only a transient skin irritation in the rare cases in which it gets onto a human

DEMODECTIC (RED) MANGE

Symptoms: A rarity in cats, cause a patchy loss of fur

Treatment: It will respond readily to treatment your vet can provide

CHEYLETIELLA MITE

Location:The larger Cheyletiella Mite, most often found in the fur of rabbits,once in a while parasitizes cats

Symptoms: The irritation is mild and the evidence principally dandruff

Treatment: The mites are eliminated by a flea preparation

SCRUB ITCH (TROMBICULID)

Description: These mites are free-living as adults,but immature specklike orange, yellow or red forms may infest the ears or other body parts of outdoor cats

Treatment: This is the same as for Ear Mites and Fleas

MAGGOTS

Two less common,but very disagreeable superficial parasitisms are caused by flies.A weak animal that cannot clean its body discharges,or one that lies injured and helpless outdoors in warm weather, attracts flies.These flies,which relish dried blood and serum or faecal matter lay eggs on the animal.The eggs shortly hatch into small maggots,which eat into and undermine the skin,then work their way into deeper tissues.The sight and odor of such an infestation can turn the strongest stomach

Treatment: The situation will eventually prove fatal,unless every last maggot is promptly removed by your vet and suitable treatment given

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