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My senior cat has worms. What over-the-counter dewormer should I use?
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Mediumhair | Male | neutered | 8 lbs
Hello, we have a 13 year old rescue cat. Noticed he had worms. He has seen the vet but they did not do a fecal test just gave him ear wash and drops. Can an over the counter dewormer take care of this? If so, what brand?
4 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on April 8th, 2018
1Pet Parents found this answer helpfulRelated Answers from Veterinarians
Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Published on September 30th, 2019
This product can be used only in kittens older than 6 weeks and it is effective against roundworms. I would recommend to use a different product (ideally on prescription from your local vet) for tapeworms. Fenbendazole - Panacur- could be a good option.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Anna M., DVM
Veterinarian
Published on April 12th, 2020
There are many over the counter brands that are appropriate for treating tapeworm. The active ingredient is typically praziquantel. We cannot give specific dosing instructions without examining an animal first, but typically the bottle provides dosing suggestions based on weight, and it should be specifically labeled for use in cats. You can reach out to your vet with any questions - even if they're not currently seeing patients, most vet clinics are still available for phone consultations. If so, I would recommend dropping off a fecal sample for your vet to evaluate, as many tapeworm infections can also go hand-in-hand with other intestinal parasite infections, such as roundworms or hookworms.
Hope this helps!1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Lauren Jones VMD
Veterinarian
Published on April 26th, 2017
If you are finding any worms on Coco's hind end, now is the time to treat! Some of the more common worms that are found include roundworms (which resemble spaghetti) and tapeworms (which resemble grains of rice). Prescription dewormers, such as Drontal Plus or Profender, tend to work best for both of these parasites in my experience. There are many other over the counter dewormers that can treat roundworms well, but few that are successful for treating tapeworms. Call your vet if you are concerned about tapeworms to better discuss deworming options.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful