My dewormed kitten has a moving lump on her spine. Is it a worm?

I'm sorry but it is impossible to tell just by looking at a photo. If you put a thick layer of Vaseline over the hole that will cause the bot fly larvae to go to the surface if there is one in there. It is also possible that there was a larvae in there but it has already come out. Be advised that this would only happen if the kitten is outdoors and has come into contact with grass. The time period where the larvae matures to the maggot stage is 3 to 7 weeks so, it would not be that likely in a one month old kitten. I would suggest you take the kitten to your vet for an exam.

Although some intestinal parasites can migrate under the skin in people, this doesn't usually happen in animals. Assuming you've been using a good quality dewormer that gets tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, I doubt that what you're seeing are worms. Certainly cats do have veins under the skin, so perhaps that's what you're seeing, but I'd have to say I don't think I've seen anything that sounds exactly like what you're describing. I commend you on your efforts to get rid of the fleas and tapeworms - that must have been a nightmare! - but I think you're going to have to show these lesions to your vet for a definitive diagnosis. Alternatively, you could request a consult with us, which would allow you to post pictures, so that we can take a look.

This may be a cuterebra. A cuterebra is basically a maggot that has burned into the skin, and the hole is so the maggot can breath. You need to take your cat into a vet asap to get this removed. I hope this helps!

Hello. It is very unlikely that this is cancerous, but what it actually requires is a hands-on examination. My first inclination is the presence of a single fly larva under each swelling. Warble flystrike is a common problem in young cats during the summer. This may also just be what you described, some type of benign cyst, but It is unusual enough that I really recommend letting your vet take a look at this. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Oh great question! I bet that worm was surprising. Likely this was a bot fly larvae called a cuterebra. Part of their life cycle is completed in the skin of a mammal, just as you found with Diego. Usually once it has fallen out (or removed), the body heals the wound and no other treatment is needed. Occasionally I find 2 or 3 lesions on an animal, but typically it is just 1. Watch the area for swelling, redness, or discharge. I hope this helps- and thanks for using Pet Coach!

I suspect your cat may have tapeworms. The body segments of the worm contain the eggs and are passed in the feces. Fresh, moist segments are about 1/4 in long and capable of moving. Once dried, they resemble grains of rice or sesame seeds. Tapeworm segments can sometimes be found crawling in the fur around the anus of an infected cat. Treatment for tapeworms is a drug called praziquantal, which is available through your veterinarian. I suggest that you take your cat and a fresh fecal sample to your veterinarian for confirmation that your cat does indeed have tapeworms and not fly strike (maggots) which would be a much more serious condition.

Cute kitty! These look like they could be flea larvae. You could give this kitty a bath using a mild cat shampoo and then apply a flea preventative. You also might want to have your veterinarian examine this kitten to make sure it is healthy in general and to discuss routine deworming and vaccines.