Should I deworm my new kitten with a chubby belly and visible ribs?

Hello. Just about all kittens will have roundworms & this can definitely contribute to a pot-bellied appearance. You should be able to find a kitten wormer with pyrantel pamoate at any pet store. It is safe for kittens 2 weeks & older. Just follow the label directions for administration. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi and thanks for your posting. Kittens are frequently born with roundworms they get through their mother's during pregnancy and through nursing. A pot belly appearance can indicate an intestinal worm infection. The good news is deworming Meena is not complicated and requires just a few rounds of deworming solution you can obtain from your veterinarian. A fecal test is run before and after treatment to confirm Meena has cleared the infection. During the course of deworming treatment, you may see worms passed in the stool. I would schedule an appointment with your veterinarian soon so she can get dewormed. I hope this helps and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Your friends are correct. She most likely has worms. You don't usually see the worms in the stools. The worm eggs are what is passed in the stools and those are microscopic so you wouldn't see them. The worms suck blood so if she is pale I believe that is also due to worms. It makes the cat anemic; low red blood cell count. It has nothing to do with iron. You can give iron all you want but if there are no red blood cells available to carry it, it is useless. Roundworms and hookworms are the most common worms that cause anemia. I don't know what dewormer you used but I strongly suggest you speak to your local vet about what would be the most effective. Many times what you can purchase over the counter is not the best or most effective product. Also, there are many types of worms and there is not one dewormer that will kill every type of worm. Your vet can run a fecal test to check for the microscopic eggs and then treat accordingly with the appropriate product. One deworming is rarely enough. You may have to repeat dewormings every 3-4 weeks. Your vet can give you a schedule. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Congratulations on your new kitten and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm glad to hear that he is doing well at home. The enlarged belly can be due to parasites (or worms), which are not uncommon in kittens. He should definitely be evaluated by a veterinarian within the next few days, and it would be very helpful to bring a sample of feces with you in a ziploc bag or disposable container (it shouldn't matter if there is litter in the feces). This will help the vet determine if your kitten has parasites, and if so, which ones they are and the best medication to use to treat them. Unfortunately, some parasites are actually transmitted by fleas, so those will definitely need to be treated as well. While the enlarged belly is likely due to intestinal parasites, it is important to make sure that your kitten does not have a viral or bacterial infection or has ingested a foreign body. These scenarios are unlikely as long as he is active and eating well. The vet will also have recommendations on how to treat the fleas, do a general exam, and make sure that everything else is normal! Good luck with your new kitty!

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Kittens often seem to have bloated bellies. Sometimes it is just their immature anatomy, sometimes it is internal parasites, especially roundworms. If she is eating a wet kitten food, she is probably getting a fair amount of liquid every day. You usually will not see such a young kitten drinking water consistently. It would be a good idea to take the kitten to your veterinarian for a fecal analysis & proper health check. They will determine what, if any worms the kitten has, & administer the proper medication. Take care.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Moon. Congrats on the new kitten, but I'm sorry she has worms! Panacur kills roundworms (which is likely what she has), whipworms, and hookworms. You can get that over the counter. Deworm her now, and then again in two weeks to kill all the worms. After that, she should be dewormed monthly until she is six months old, and then she should be dewormed every three months. I hope this helps!

Many times you will not see intestinal parasites until the animals are critically sick. It's recommended to deworm young puppies and kittens every two weeks for at least three cycles, due to the lifecycle of the parasites. I would recommend getting a product labeled for kittens such as pyrantel pamoate. Make sure you weigh them and get accurate weights to dose the medication. As soon as you are able I do still recommend a veterinary exam as they will need vaccines, feline leukemia testing and there are other parasites that the pyrantel may not address. Look in your area as there are often low cost vaccination clinics available through pet stores or feed stores if a full service clinic is not possible. Also check with your local veterinarian as many times they may offer a rate for a litter of kittens versus charging each animal individually. Best of luck and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.