My cat has worms. What happens if I use the wrong dewormer on her?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The worms in the photo appear to be tapeworms or, less commonly, pinworms. these can cause impactions and diarrhea, especially in kittens. Unfortunately, I am unable to prescribe medication for Coco without having examined her. However, your veterinarian can quickly determine the exact type of parasites present with a fecal sample and prescribe the appropriate treatment. Because many parasites are transmitted by fleas, it is important for Coco to be on a monthly flea preventative. You should also be careful when cleaning out her litter box to make sure you wash your hands well with soap and water, as some of these parasites can infect humans. I hope all is well!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Most of the time when dewormers fail to help is because the right medication is not being used for the parasite to be treated. That is why it is crucial to have her evaluated by a veterinarian so that they can check a stool sample and determine which deworming medication may be best to treat this with. Only with the right medication she will improve and a veterinarian can help you determine that. Best of luck!

There is a chance that you may be able to determine the type of worm that Sierra has and then treat with appropriate over the counter dewormers. A small, moving piece sounds most like a tapeworm segment, which typically resembles a grain of rice. These worms can be treated with praziquantel ( http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=35698 ) with 2 doses, 3 weeks apart. Other common parasites include roundworms, which resemble spaghetti, and hookworms, which are slightly flatter than spaghetti but can be similar in appearance. Both roundworms and hookworms can be treated with pyrantel pamoate ( http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=1430 ). With any deworming medication, be sure that you are dosing for Sierra's current body weight. If you are truly unsure about the type of worm present, it may be best to take a stool sample to Sierra's vet for a more conclusive diagnosis. I hope that all goes well!

From the picture you provided, it looks like Lucy could have roundworms. I recommend giving her either Panacur or Drontal. Both kill roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms, and Drontal will also kill tapeworms. You can get both from your vet's office. As with last time, you should get her one deworming treatment now and then another two weeks later. At that, in order to keep the worms away, she will need to be dewormed every three months. I hope this helps!

Yes - a wormer designed for roundworms is the best option. Be sure to follow all directions as regards minimum age for use (some should not be used before 9weeks etc), correct species and weight and to repeat treatment at the correct frequency. If she is vomiting frequently, a spot on medication may be more useful to ensure she does not vomit the oral treatment before it has time to work. Your vets office can advise on the most appropriate product available in your area

That does not look like a typical worm. If you can't take her to a vet, the best thing would be to get a stool sample and just take the sample to your vet for an analysis to determine if she has any parasites. You could also buy a broad spectrum dewormer and treat her for parasites or use Revolution on her which would treat for fleas, heartworms, roundworms, and hookworms. If the diarrhea continues, then she really needs to be seen by a vet. Maybe you could find a mobile vet that could come to your home to examine and treat.

The type of dewormer depends on the intestinal parasite. If you post or describe the parasite I might be able to help you further. Check this product if Cristoph has roundworms: or this one if he has tapeworm: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/bayer-tapeworm-dewormer-tablets-for-cats?rrec=true Please refer to your vet or post again if you have any doubt, question or you are not sure regarding the amount to administer. Please make sure is the correct product for his size and age. I hope this answer was helpful.