Cat Roundworms (Ascarids) Symptoms and Treatments

Roundworms in cats, often called 'ascarids,' are the most common parasite of the digestive tract in cats and dogs. There are 3 types of roundworms that affect cats and dogs and each has transport hosts.

Adult roundworms live in the stomach and intestine and attain lengths up to five inches. The eggs are protected by a hard sheel. They are extremely hardy and can live for months or years in the soil. they become infective in 3 to 4 weeks.

Cats acquire the disease through contact with soil containing the eggs or by eating an abnormal host, such as a beetle or rodent, which acquired encysted larvae in its tissues. The larvae are released in the cat's digestive tract.

The 3 types of roundworms are: Toxascaris Leonina, Toxocara Cati and the Toxocara Canis (for dogs). All of these 3 types of roundworms are widely distributed in North America. They are of considerable importance in young animals and in catteries. Because they can cause disease in humans called visceral larvae migrans, they are also very important to our health as well.

Fortunately, treatment is safe, simple, and relatively inexpensive. After administration of the deworming medication (called an anthelmintic), the worms will pass into the stool. Because of their large size, they are easily identified. At least two or three treatments are needed; they are typically performed at 2-3 week intervals. Ideally, kittens are then dewormed again with each visit for kitten vaccinations. None of these treatments will kill the immature forms of the worm or the migrating larvae.

Recommended Medicine: Piperazine compound (Antepar) and Pyrantel pamoate (Nemex)

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