How to Treat Tapeworm in Kittens

Kittens can get tapeworms from eating fleas.

Kittens develop tapeworms after ingesting a flea containing tapeworm larvae. The larvae then migrate through the pet's lungs to its stomach where they mature. They later attach to the kitten's small intestines, sucking up the nutrients needed for it to grow, says Dr. Holly Nash of PetEducation.com. Veterinarians commonly prescribe praziquantel, in pill form, to kill the worms with one dose. Because the medication only kills the adult worms, many vets suggest redosing the kitten in three weeks to destroy any adults that may have grown from the larvae left. Learning how to dose your kitten the second time can save you time and a vet visit.

Things You'll Need

• Veterinarian-prescribed medication
• Towel
• Water-filled syringe

Instructions

1. Wrap your kitten in a towel, gently encasing the limbs and leaving only the head exposed.

2. Hold the kitten's head in one hand, using your fingers to calmly open her mouth by pressing gently on the sides of the mouth next to the back teeth.

3. Pop the prescribed pill onto the back of your kitten's tongue and hold the mouth closed, gently stroking her throat so that she will swallow.

4. Place your water-filled syringe in the side pocket of your kitten's mouth and squirt in a small amount of water. This allows the kitten to swallow the pill without it getting stuck in her esophagus.

Tips & Warnings

• Always squirt in a small amount of water after dosing your cat or kitten with a pill. Cats do not have the same undulating movement of the esophagus that transfers food to the stomach as do humans --- the pill can get stuck and cause esophageal ulcers.

• If your kitten does not seem willing to swallow the pill, try gently puffing air into her nose. This often opens up the throat, allowing the medication to go down say Drs. Dennis McCurnin and Joanna Bassert in "Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians."

• Praziquantel is not to be given to kittens less than six weeks old, say the vets at the Vet Info website.

• If your kitten appears to be choking on the pill, let her cough it back up. Aspirated medication that reaches the lungs may result in your kitten contracting pneumonia.

References

• PetEducation.com: Tapeworms of Cats
• "Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians"; Dennis M. McCurnin, DVM, Joanna M. Bassert, VMD; 2002
• VetInfo.com: Cat Tapeworm Treatment with Droncit

Resources

• Mar Vista Animal Medical Center: The Common Tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum)
• Centers for Disease Control: Dipylidium Infection Fact Sheet