Be alert to the hidden health threat. Most internal parasites, commonly called worms, live in a cats intestines where they feed and reproduce. All kittens should be examined by a veterinarian for internal parasites. Your veterinarian can detect the presence of most worms by examining your kittens feces.
Some parasites, such as hookworms and roundworms, can be transmitted from the mother to her kittens before birth or during nursing. Hookworms are among the most dangerous of all internal parasites, especially in kittens who can be infected from their mother during nursing. Hookworms attach themselves to the intestinal wall and suck blood, causing severe anemia which can be fatal. Kittens with a heavy hookworm infection can die from blood loss within a few weeks. Their presence is less severe in older cats, but may lead to chronic anemia. Regular fecal examinations for the presence of hookworms minimizes the risk of infection.
Roundworms are a common parasite among young kittens. They are infected by way of the placenta during birth. After birth, kittens can become infected by larvae in the mothers milk. In the small intestine, roundworms compete with the kitten for nutrients, resulting in stunted growth and poor health. Roundworms often make a kitten look potbellied. Other signs include diarrhea, poor coat, listlessness and poor growth.
Whipworms are passed in the feces and are difficult to eliminate. Generalized symptoms include weight loss, nervousness, diarrhea with blood and mucus, and dehydration. Treatment with anti-whipworm medication must be repeated at regular intervals until the cat is completely cleared of whipworms.
Tapeworms can be contracted by a kittens or cats swallowing tapeworm-carrying fleas, or by eating an infested rodent or raw fish or meat. The most common symptom is a ravenous appetite with no weight gain and, possibly, weight loss. Tapeworms are treated by medicine prescribed by a veterinarian.
Coccidia is a common parasite of cats, especially kittens. Eggs passed in the feces of infected animals become infective to other animals within one to several days, depending upon the temperature. The most common symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, dehydration, weight and appetite loss. However, coccidia may present no symptoms. Veterinary diagnosis is made by examining the feces. Several effective medications are available, but the general health of the cat and the function of its immune system appear to be very important in preventing and treating coccidia.
Giardia is one of the most common parasites infecting cats. Young cats are more likely to have severe infections. Infections can be acquired by direct contact with fecal matter containing the parasites as well as from contaminated food and water. Symptoms can be intermittent or continuous and include foul-smelling feces which may contain mucus, loss of appetite and weight loss. Your veterinarian must perform fecal examinations by procedures designed to reveal this type of parasite. Once the diagnosis is established, specific treatment is available.
Tristan Andrews
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/dealing-with-internal-parasites-93828.html
Internal Fish Parasites?
I asked a question last night about my new Silver molly that had a red area under her skin that had slightly spread in the one day that I had her.
I separated her in a aerated tank but found her dead this morning:(
She was pregnant and the babies were expelled I suppose after her death. Some were not even formed yet, it’s doubtful that they will even live but some are swimming around. Some are silver and some are light black colored, the silver ones you can see red so I suppose whatever she had affected her babies.
My question is, what can I use to treat the tank since I was forced to put the babies in my smaller tank which houses 3 other mollies. Will my 3 other mollies get it? Will it be safe to treat the tank even though some dont have it? what about medicated food? I’ve never had to deal with sick fish, any help greatly appreciated!
Thanks, petsmart opens in one hour and I will head down to pick up some internal parasite medication of some kind.
No no this wasnt the red of her embryos it was red around her head area.
It started around her mouth and moved up towards her eye in one day.
Then she was dead this morning leaving me a few expelled fry that were alive, but too small to have been ready to be born yet.
I got the only thing they had for internal parisites, it is from Jungle: Parasite Cure. cures internal and external parisites but I didnt see anything listed that might have caused the redness.
I know how to keep my gravel and fish clean I just bought the fish yesterday..
Humph.
yes get an anti internal bacteria treatment made by interpet in england it costs£ 4.09 even tho some dont have it its better to treat the whole tank just incase or the 1`s that do have it will eventually spread the infection to yr healthy ones hope this helps u out sorry bout yr molly
References :
fish breeder/keeper for 20 years
First make sure that that sore wasn’t just an ammonia burn, caused by poor water conditions. Also ,the act of netting and moving female live-bearers within two weeks before their delivery time can cause them to abort the "prenancy" and die. The red color you are seeing in the new fry is just their internal organs showing through. Don’t go throwing a bunch of weird chemicals in your fry tank,you will most likely kill the fry also. Internal parasites are rare in fish that live in clean, frequently refreshed water. Learn how to keep the gravel and water clean and your "parasite" problem will go away.
References :
60 years of fish keeping.