My cat is not eating, drinking, or active after tapeworm shot. Normal?

Poor Garfield! Tapeworms do not usually cause any significant weight loss or other symptoms in cats, so I would be very concerned that Garfield has a more serious problem. I would recommend taking him to the vet for an exam when you are able to. He/she can do some diagnostic testing (blood work and x-rays) if needed to help determine what's wrong, and will get him started on appropriate treatment depending on what is found.

Tapeworms don't typically cause major illness in cats and I would be concerned that Tiana has something more serious going on. Other types of intestinal parasites, infectious diseases or even ingestion of a foreign object resulting in an intestinal blockage would be more likely to cause these signs. I would recommend having Tiana examined by your veterinarian. They might recommend checking a stool sample or x-rays depending on what they find on exam. Hope she's feeling better soon!

It sounds like there could be an underlying issue. Tapeworms don't usually cause coughing and lethargy in cats. Your cat should be examined by a vet to determine the exact cause and treat the problem. Your vet can run labwork and take an xray, if needed, to help diagnose and then determine the best way to treat.

Some loss of appetite/lethargy can be normal after a deworming, especially if there was a heavy worm load that is now dying off. You can try to entice eating by offering some plain boiled chicken or wet food warmed up as cat's appetites are driven by smell. However, if it's been several days and Layla still isn't back to normal, isn't eating or drinking at all, or is very lethargic, it is best to let your vet know to make sure there isn't another underlying issue that needs to be addressed.

It is possible that the worms were the reason why he wasn't eating, and the deworming treatment itself can make him feel nauseous and unwell. It's the result of the dead worms moving through his GI system. I would recommend offering him a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) in small amounts to try to tempt him to eat. You can also soak his dry food in tuna juice, or offer him gently warmed really smelly wet food, such as sardine or fish based. If he still isn't eating in the morning, I would have him seen by the vet again. It will take at least two deworming treatments to kill all the worms.

I would recommend taking Toby to another veterinarian if you are not comfortable with your veterinarian's diagnosis and treatment. If the stuff that is stuck to his anus looks like little bits of rice it could be tapeworms. Only certain dewormers will help with these worms. So it depends on what dewormer was given to say if it worked or not. Also tapeworms are caused by them eating fleas at some point. I would talk with friends and neighbors to see what veterinarians in your area people recommend. I hope Toby feels better soon and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thank you for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. What you describe definitely sounds like tapeworms. I am sorry to hear that Toby sounds like he is having an adverse reaction to the tapeworm medicaiton. This sounds serious. I would highly recommend taking Toby in to your vet to have him treated for an adverse reaction, which includes fluids for flush out his system and and symptomatic treatment. It’s best to take him in right away if possible. I hope that your pet Toby is able to make a full and speedy recovery. Best wishes and take care.