Fighting fleas can be difficult. Maybe you skipped a flea treatment or never provided one. On the other hand, perhaps you've been diligent about it and you still have flea problems. Whatever the case, if you have fleas, there's potential for your cat to end up with a couple of parasites that can cause big problems for their health. Here's what they are and what you can do about them:
Mycoplasma
Mycoplasma is a type of infectious parasite that can be transferred from a flea when it bites your cat. This parasite is a tiny bacterium that can latch on to your cat's red blood cells. It not only damages the red blood cells in the process, but something even worse comes along: the white blood cells.
Normally, white blood cells are helpful in fighting off diseases and bacteria. However, since the parasites are attached to the red blood cells, the white blood cells completely destroy both the parasite and the red blood cell. This can lead to your cat becoming extremely anemic in a short amount of time.
Tapeworms
Tapeworms are a more commonly known parasite. They dwell in the intestines and consume the food that the cat eats before the cat's body can digest it for nutrients.
Tapeworms get there because fleas can become infected with tapeworm eggs. When a cat licks itself and accidentally eats an infected tapeworm, those eggs hatch out in the stomach. From there, the individual larvae can grow into adulthood and start leeching your cat's meals before the kitty can benefit from them.
What to Do
If you know that your cat has had fleas recently, you should take them to the vet. Your veterinarian can screen your cat for tapeworms and mycoplasma with an ultrasound scan and blood test, respectively. If your cat tests positive, your vet can start treating the kitty with medication to kill the tapeworms or mycoplasma.
Whether or not your cat had one of these illnesses, your vet will likely recommend starting a new regular anti-flea regimen. Sometimes certain varieties of flea medications stop working quite so well after a while, so your vet may be able to prescribe one that they know is effective in your area.
Having fleas is bad enough all on its own without these infectious parasites becoming a problem. Unfortunately, the reality is that you could end up with both fleas and parasites. Don't let your kitty get chewed up and infected with these nasty things. Take them to the vet to get their fleas under control.
For more information, contact clinics like Norwin Veterinary Hospital.
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