Deworming Cats

[LaurenHW]

@Dr. Jeff @Dr. Christina @Dr. Jean Hofve @Dr. Sara

Please advise how to deworm Cats naturally. Is it differnt than Dogs?
What methods are most effective:herbal, homeopathic?

Is using Clay or a Binder needed along with treatment?

How do you flush out dead worms?

 

[Dr. Jean Hofve]

Well, unsurprisingly, "it depends!"

Homeopathy, of course, must be individualized, so there isn't a "remedy for worms."

You must also know and consider the typeof worm. Some encyst in muscle tissue, so--for example--giving clay, which works directly in the GI tract, may not do it.

Heartworms require totally different methods than, say, roundworms, which are different from tapeworms. Hydatid tapeworms like echinococcus (the dog is a host) are very dangerous, they encyst in the liver and require special care.

(Ringworm, of course, isn't a worm so that's a whole 'nother story!)

Normally, once worms are dead, the body will naturally flush them out.

However, this is not always a safe assumption. A severe heartworm burden requires a much different procedure, as the dead worms can cause fatal pulmonary thromboses.

 

[LaurenHW]

Well, unsurprisingly, "it depends!"

Homeopathy, of course, must be individualized, so there isn't a "remedy for worms."

You must also know and consider the typeof worm. Some encyst in muscle tissue, so--for example--giving clay, which works directly in the GI tract, may not do it.

Heartworms require totally different methods than, say, roundworms, which are different from tapeworms. Hydatid tapeworms like echinococcus (the dog is a host) are very dangerous, they encyst in the liver and require special care.

(Ringworm, of course, isn't a worm so that's a whole 'nother story!)

Normally, once worms are dead, the body will naturally flush them out.

However, this is not always a safe assumption. A severe heartworm burden requires a much different procedure, as the dead worms can cause fatal pulmonary thromboses.

@Dr. Jean Hofve Yes 100% right! I agree & appreciate you explaining this. Is there a Home Stool test to determine what kind of worms?
I have had stool mailed in to labs by my Vets. What are the options?

 

[Dr. Jean Hofve]

No. A fecal flotation can find many worm eggs (like roundworms and hookworms), but a lab evaluation will be much more thorough and will also find other parasites like giardia.