Internal parasites can be worms – such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms or single-celled parasites, such as Toxoplasma and giardia.

The most common symptoms of worm infestation are having a bloated abdomen, flatulence, diarrhea, vomiting and loss of appetite.

Yes, the worms can be transmitted to humans but they rarely stay in our intestinal tract, as we are not their normal host.

Cutaneous Larval Migrans (CLM): is caused by the migration of hookworm larva beneath the skin, leaving extremely itchy red lines, that may be accompanied by blisters.

Ocular Larval Migrans (OLM): is caused by the migration of the roundworm larva, which invades the eye.

Visceral Larval Migrans (VLM): is caused by the migration of the roundworm larva through the abdomen around the organs, also called toxocariasis.

Cysticercus/Cysticercoid: The larval stage of a cestode that consists of a single scolex (head) encased in a fluid-filled cyst.

When kittens start coming to a veterinarian at around 8-weeks-old, we deworm them every 2 weeks, until they are around 14-weeks-old. Then, if we find intestinal parasite after or when they are adults, we deworm them and repeat the deworming in 2 weeks, until they are negative for worms.

The most common side effects are vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite.