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Lambliosis in cats
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
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Giardiasis in cats is not very common. This disease can damage the intestinal flora of the body.
This phenomenon is caused by the presence of Giardia, which is not a worm, bacteria or virus. Rather, it is a microorganism that is a common parasite among animals. Even humans can be infected.
Causes of Giardiasis in Cats
The causes of giardiasis in cats are quite questionable. Thus, an animal can become infected through water, food or washing. Licking paws after visiting the litter box is also the main cause of infection.
A cat can become a carrier of the disease after swallowing the parasite's cysts. The stomach acid in the animal's body significantly weakens the cysts' shell, but once they are in the intestines, they are transformed into trophozoites.
This active form gradually attaches to the intestinal wall and begins to feed. Then the process of reproduction and division occurs. After there are many parasites in the body, the disease will begin to manifest itself.
It is important to monitor the hygiene of the animal. The tray must always be cleaned. It is there that parasites may be found. Infection can occur even without contact with a "sick" animal. The microorganism can develop in normal home conditions. Lambliasis in cats can appear if hygiene rules are not followed, so the animal's tray and its food bowl must always be clean.
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Symptoms of Giardiasis in Cats
Symptoms of giardiasis in cats may not appear immediately. If there are insufficient numbers of parasites in the animal's body, there will be no symptoms. When their number reaches its maximum, the first signs will begin to appear.
It should be noted that the degree of manifestation of giardiasis may vary. Much depends on the age of the cat and the infecting dose. Naturally, immunity and other social factors play a major role. Animals that are often outdoors are at risk.
The symptoms of the disease may be subtle. They often manifest as intestinal upset or general malaise. In some cases, clinical manifestations are absent altogether.
The stool may be either soft or watery. It may have yellowish or greenish tints. It has a foul odor, and sometimes contains blood or mucus. Diarrhea may occur periodically.
If the disease is long-term, then a deficiency of fats and vitamins may occur. This leads to excessive dryness of the skin and brittleness of the fur.
Lamblia causes poisoning of the body, so the animal may have allergic reactions of various kinds. In some cases, vomiting appears and activity decreases. Lambliasis in cats is a common disease that must be eliminated in a timely manner.
Diagnosis of Giardiasis in Cats
Diagnosis of giardiasis in cats involves confirming the presence of giardia in the body. Cysts and other parasites are usually found in feces. It is worth noting that giardia may not come out with every portion of feces. It is quite possible that there are so few of them that it is difficult to see them with the naked eye.
To confirm the presence of giardiasis, it is necessary to observe feces for several days. The study of the image should be carried out constantly. The flotation method or smear analysis method is used for diagnosis.
You can also conduct diagnostics yourself. It is enough to simply monitor your stool. Only your attending physician can provide detailed information. Based on the smears obtained, he or she makes certain conclusions.
To detect the presence of Giardia, special tests are carried out. These are enzyme immunoassay and immunochromatographic test. Based on them, a diagnosis can be made quickly and reliably. The most accurate diagnostic method today is the polymerase chain reaction.
It is important to start worrying about the animal's health in time. After all, parasites can greatly depress the body. Subsequently, the cat becomes less active, eats poorly and generally feels tired. If you delay diagnosis and treatment, you can kill the animal. Lambliasis in cats must be eliminated in a timely manner.
Treatment of giardiasis in cats
Treatment of giardiasis in cats should be carried out in a timely manner, and most importantly competently. If the pet has the first symptoms of the disease, it is necessary to go to the veterinarian for help.
Lamblia are parasites, so they need to be eliminated with antiparasitic drugs. Metronidazole, Nifuratel and Albendazole cope with this phenomenon perfectly. It is important to understand that these are drugs intended for humans. Therefore, giving them in the dosage described in the instructions is dangerous for the life of the animal. Regarding the use of these drugs, you need to consult a doctor.
Enterosorbents are used together with the above-described medications; they perfectly remove toxins from the body. It is definitely worth taking a course of probiotics to improve the intestinal microflora. It is advisable to follow a special diet.
The course of treatment is 7-10 days. Repeated tests are carried out to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment. It is also worth noting the fact that lamblia in cats actively resist treatment. Therefore, in some cases, it is necessary to undergo more than one course of treatment. Lambliasis in cats is treated by selecting effective drugs.
Prevention of giardiasis in cats
Prevention of giardiasis in cats consists of the most common hygiene. It is advisable to wash your hands more often, especially after cleaning the tray. Constant disinfection of surfaces is necessary. Ordinary chlorine bleach is suitable for this.
In those places where the cat is most often, it is worth cleaning and drying. The tray should always be treated with boiling water. A similar procedure is carried out with bowls.
In this case, it will be easy to avoid an epidemic of the disease. It is important not to ignore these requirements. After all, many people do not particularly monitor their animals. Therefore, one can only guess about the presence of certain diseases.
Timely hygiene measures, compliance with preventive rules and proper nutrition of the animal will not harm it. On the contrary, such an attitude will protect it from unwanted diseases. Giardiasis in cats is not so easy to cure, you need to understand this and not expose the animal to this disease.
Forecast of giardiasis in cats
The prognosis for giardiasis in cats is positive if treatment is started on time. It is worth understanding that giardia are parasites that harm the animal's body. If you ignore the symptoms and do not treat, the cat may die.
When the first signs of the disease appear, it is worth taking the animal to the veterinarian. This will allow timely diagnosis of the disease and treatment. In some cases, the disease passes without any clinical manifestations. That is why a systematic examination by a veterinarian should be present. It should be understood that giardiasis is not always treatable the first time. Sometimes it is necessary to undergo more than one course on the way to recovery.
Naturally, not many people devote enough time and attention to their pet. In that case, why get one? A cat needs to be looked after and treated in a timely manner. Otherwise, you can lose the animal. Giardiasis in cats is quite common today, so it needs to be eliminated quickly and effectively.