My new kitten has worms. What to do at home with vet waitlist?

While there are different types of deworming medications available over the counter you would need to know what type of intestinal parasites your kitten has to choose the appropriate one, and that would most likely require a fecal analysis with your veterinarian. If your kitten is eating and drinking normally and seems active I would wait until your appointment. Your kitten has probably had the worms since birth! Most intestinal parasites are transmitted through stool so you should isolate the new kitten from the adult cat and give them separate litter pans.

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.

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.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Jasper. Congrats on your new dog! That is a roundworm. You will need to deworm him. I would get Panacur from the vet to treat the worms. It's a three day course of treatment, and you will need to give a second course two weeks after the first one finishes to kill all the worms. He should then be dewormed every three months. I hope this helps!

Hello, & thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. You can definitely deworm Fiber now. For a kitten this young, you can use Pyrantal pamoate which is available over the counter. The bottle will have all the details as to how much to give. I would recommend repeating this in 2 weeks. Take care. Fiber is such a cutie!

Hello. Since you wormed her for the tapeworms, it is a good idea to also worm for roundworms & hookworms. You should be able to easily find this at PetSmart, just look for anything that indicates it has pyrantel pamoate in it & just follow the label directions. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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!