Diseases that cats transmit to humans are numerous and can have serious consequences for you and the health of your environment. We have decided to make a series of articles that will educate our readers about the most common diseases, their causes, consequences and preventive measures.
In order not to overwhelm you with too much information, we will describe one of the most common diseases that are contagious in each post. We hope that all this information will help you reduce the risks of infection in your environment.
Tapeworm
Tapeworms, like other intestinal parasites, are common health problems in both dogs and cats, although they are less common in cats. The consequences of the presence of this tapeworm can range from mild to serious clinical conditions. The condition worsens as the number of parasites increases and if the problem is not noticed in time. The problem is that in the initial stage of the infection, the animals may not show any symptoms, but they are certainly a source of infection, considering that they are the hosts and therefore the carriers of this parasite.
How to notice that a cat is infected?
In addition to standard warning signs such as classic stomach problems with intense diarrhea and vomiting accompanied by bloating, the presence of parasites in the feces is a sure sign. The presence of the eggs of this worm, which is similar to a grain of rice as well as the parasite itself, can most often be noticed.
A cat may be weak, with no appetite. Accompanying consequences are weight loss and fever (dry snout) as well as the appearance of blood in the feces.
You should pay attention to these symptoms and consult a veterinarian for help.
The treatment is usually done after a stool analysis and possibly a blood test with a wide range of anti-parasite drugs that you can find in most pet stores.
Prevention
Regular deworming or therapy against intestinal parasites as well as control examinations of feces are the best protection for your pet.
Wash your hands regularly and take care of the general hygiene of the pet and the space in which it stays. Clean the sandboxes that are used for urination regularly and carefully, after which you should wash your hands and equipment thoroughly. Warn children that they can become infected if they do not take care of hygiene after contact with pets.