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CAT PARASITES???
I just adopted a year old cat from the humane society and took her to a free exam at a local vet.
She's completely healthy but the vet said I should bring in a fecal sample to test for internal parasites.
He really scared me with all the talk of how they can harm humans. But they're really expensive and with buying the cat and all her things I can't really afford that this month.
I would like some advice from experienced pet owners, please.
Do you have your cat tested for internal parasites even if they're completely healthy?
Are they THAT big of a threat to humans as long as you wash your hands after cleaning the litter box and before you eat?
I mean, people had house cats ALL THE TIME before things like internal parasite testing existed and I've never heard of the great blinding epidemic from house cats..
I'm worried... but I really can't afford it this month.
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Want to answer more questions in the Domesticity category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Pets?
I work for a vet and a payment plan is a great idea but a lot of vet's don't offer the payment plans anymore because PEOPLE DON'T PAY when they say they're going to. (Like at my office--we have people that owe almost $1000 and we can't do anything about it--even though the owners promised to pay--they aren't)
ANYWAYS, testing for intestinal parasites is really easy. It has us techs look at the fecal sample under a microscope to see if we see tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms, coccidia, and other parasites. But tapes, hooks, rounds, and coccidia are the most common that I see in cats. The fecal test should be the least expensive test possible (at least in my office it is).
I definitely recommend it, especially if you have kids.
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It's probably something that you should do, especially if there will be any children living in your house or visiting. My advice for you is that it would be okay for you to wait until next month if you have to. Just don't put it off so long that it doesn't get done. Sure there's a chance that everything is fine, but there's a chance that it's not, too. Definitely get it done by next month. As flare suggested, perhaps you could set up a payment plan. Shop around, too. See if you can find a different vet. Get a second opinion and see if there is anyone that could do it for cheaper. You don't want to get sick, but you don't want to get screwed over either. Good luck!
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Hi,
I'm going to address your question in points:
1. Of course you should test your pet for internal parasites, as although the animal may look healthy from the outside, you never know what is going on inside. Of course some pet owners will say that they've never had their pet tested and it's been alive for as long as they can remember. That's just irresponsible.
2. They are a threat. Some forms of media claim that some parasites can cause schizophrenia in humans. But of course different parasites have different effects. According to a study, cat parasites infect 350,000 people every year just in Britain!
3. Of course people have had house cats for many years before such technology became available to test for parasites. But people also only lived to 30 (if you were lucky) at one point.
And it's not only dangerous to humans. It can severely affect the cat, and parasites can kill them. That's more important than making sure it doesn't spread. Because if you can nip it in the bud by testing early, then you're okay.
Some parasites can also travel between any warm blooded animals.
So, you should ask your vet if they have some sort of payment plan. Get it tested as soon as possible, because it's the responsible thing to do.
Animals are very expensive things, and if you find yourself struggling, it may be the best option to re-home the cat so that it can live comfortably.
But of course, speak to your vet as soon as possible, and ask their advice. Going an extra few days won't be a huge problem. Just ask them if it would be okay to wait, and if not, whether they have a payment scheme whereby you pay a little amount every so often. I'm sure they will understand, because everyone finds them selves short of a few pennies before payday.
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