AH! Stupid Cat Has Worms

go to the doc for piece of mind. I have heard that worms for the humans can get in the eyes and cause blindness.

In the last CDC study I read on the subject over 80% of playgrounds tested tested positive for worms. The come from pets in part (why they're not allowed in play grounds) but MOSTLY they come from raccoons, opossoms, feral cats, coyotes, panthers, mountian lions, panthers, all the natural citified wildlife.... that changes as you change regions. PLUS all the kids who have pets (and pets need to be wormed at LEAST once a month, and most aren't because it's expensive... so unless there's a major outbreak the worming gets skipped). The eggs are practically invisible and super super sticky. So they transfer from hands to toys or furniture/playground equip/etc to mouths just like colds... except that eggs are a lot hardier than a virus. They can live on a surface for days and days before they dry out. Even after they dry, many are still viable.

As a child we were wormed prophylactically twice a year. At the beginning of the school year and after spring break. Meaning we got our doses in school. This practice has been utterly abandoned for budgetary & lawsuit concerns.

I sometimes wonder what role worms play in the modern day plight of childhood obesity... because having worms makes you HUNGRY. And because you aren't getting the nutrition you would be getting without the parasites, your body goes into starvation mode and starts hoarding all those calories as fat... which makes you even hungrier.

I watch kids squirm with itchy bums all the time. It's really easy to tell the difference between the wiggles and an itch when you know what to look for.

I didn't even think about any of this until we got our new puppy and I wanted to start worming my son. The receptionist wouldn't even take the appointment. I had to lie and make the appointment about something else in order to actually go in and be seen. The nurse told me flat out that we don't get the same kinds of worms animals do. (Head Slap!) When the ped came in, she not only wrote the Rx without missing a blink, saying it was a darn good idea... but went on to say that so few people were smart enough to worm themselves as well as their pets these days. Well DUH. I told her about the hoops I had to jump through to get in to be seen, what the nurse had said, and received a letter a few weeks later outlining the training class that was instituted in their and other satellite offices. My friends have had an equal to even harder time getting their kids wormed. Some of their kids had such bad infestations that they had to have repeat dosages for several weeks AND one little boy lost over 10lbs in 3 months. Over 25% of his body weight once the worms were gone.

In our case... had had the puppy 2 weeks... and yup. Kiddo had worms. No big surprise. He was 4 after all. We only get ourselves wormed once a year now... but we still do it.

It's an easy Rx. 1 chewable pill, like baby tylenol. That's it. Tastes like sidewalk chalk.

I'm sure you'll get some good info from other posts. But I wanted to add that while I am not familiar with what to do in this situation at all, I wouldn't let anyone talk me out of having my child looked at by the pediatrician. They'll be the ones to really know. And then you'll know it is handled, not just hope so. Good luck to you.

Calm down, stop freaking out. Even if your son gets worms they are easy to treat and won't hurt him at all. Lot's to kids get them from playing outside where dogs or cats have been. You look at his butt for worms. They usually do their moving at night and he will itch down there. I would suggest putting some lotion on his bottom for awhile. If he does have worms they can't lay eggs if there is lotion on him. If you do see worms coming from his butt just go to the doctor and you get a pill and then they are gone. It's not a big deal at all. As far as the cats go the worms come from flea bites. I have two cats and a dog. Only one of the cats get worms and I treat him as soon as I see them. We have never gotten worms from him and neither has anyone else. Hope this helped.

Unless your son eats a worm, the eggs, or infected cat poop he can't get them! And if he does get them , (which is unlikely) you will see them in his poopy diapers. Our dog had worms and I was worried that my baby would get them so I researched it quite a bit and he never got worms by the way.

Just wanted to clarify that it is true that roundworms from cats and dogs can cause eye problems when people become infected and the larval stage migrates throughout the body. It is called ocular larval migrans. I would not worry too much though since the cats likely have tapeworms which are relatively harmless. Even if the cats do have roundworms I wouldn't freak out since complications are very rare and many pets have roundworms especially when they are young. Talk to your ped and have your friend take care of the cats. That is why us vets encourage preventative care and flea control!

There are many different types of worms. If the cats have tapeworms which are the most common types and mostly caused by fleas, its very unlikely your son has worms. People cannot get tapeworms easily. Roundworms can more easily be transmitted, but unless your son has been playing in the litter box, it again isn't something you should worry too much about. There are other types, but less common and certainly no the type you might see crawling on their hair. I'd ask your friend to verify the type of worm, then read up a little on it and ask questions of your pedi if you feel you need to.

Depends on the kind of worms. Chances are that they are tapeworms, and if he has eaten a worm or some cat poo, he could have them. De-worming kids is really no big deal if you have to do it; so don't sweat it. You get a stool sample, which should be easy since he'll be in diapers, and you take it to the doc. They will check it for eggs. If you see a worm in his diaper, obviously he has them, but you won't find the eggs, so you need to get that stool sample. Contact your ped and set it up. It's no big deal, honest.
People talking about the itchy bottom: that's pinworms. Not the issue here, although he could get them anywhere.
The tapeworms do come from infected fleas, but the eggs are passed in cat and dog poop, so if he eats that he could still get tapeworms.
Someone mentioned the worms that cause blindness: that's a different worm, only in Africa, and not present here. I think she's thinking of river blindness. I'm familiar with this worm because I had a different strain of them myself that I caught when I lived over there!! Short answer: not an issue for you.
The stool sample will also catch roundworm and possibly hookworm infections too, if you request it. Those are both possible but really unlikely. Tapeworm is your most likely suspect.

;

Sweetie pie, I know they are dirty and I would not have any child near the wormy animal, but I don't think we can catch them from the animal. Call wvet and ask his opinion, call your baby dr with the vet's info and ask dr if baby needs checked. At least you have a great sence of humor and that helps !!! ;-)

I can understand your upset, and I found my kids had all sorts of things and still managed to grow up. Amazing how often I worried about stuff.
Thank goodness your son likes animals, personally I have always found that a good indicator of good people.
Take a stool sample to the pediatrician, and know they eat a peck of dirt before it is all over.
Smile- best, k

Chances are they are tapeworms- but not seeing them. I have 3 cats & my daughter is all over the cats all of the time.

IF it is tapeworms- they got them from fleas. So your son will only get them if he eats a flea.

Regardless- they should go to the vet to get checked out.

don't freak until it is know what kind of worms they are.

Depends on what kind of worms they are... Since you've already got a doctor's appointment with your son go ahead and keep it, but if they're flea tape worms - small and white, look like a grain of rice and by far the most common kind of worms an indoor cat will get - your son can't get them unless he eats a flea. However you mention other cats and don't say if they go outside or not so go with your current plan.