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Cats/wormer question

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Expert: - 10/27/2009


Question

Kitten : )
I have been hand raising a litter of stray kittens since they were about a week old maybe younger well I am pretty sure they should be wormed by now ..the problem is I can't find a vet that will sell me wormer without bringing them all in for an exam ..I can't afford 4 exams ...I have already spent a small fortune keeping these guys fed for the last month + at 3 quarts of  $10 kitten milk a week for 4 weeks its added up real quick and that doesnt include kitty litter food or the boxes I had to buy to keep them safe :/  all I have on hand is Safe-guard -Fenbendazole 22.2% I have 3 2gram packets and pyrantel pamoate 2.27 mg per ml the kittens are about 7 weeks old I think ....all just under 2lbs ..Can I use one of these on them ? If I can what would the dosage be per pound ? any help is greatly appreciated

Answer
Hi Jenny.  Adorable kitten!!!  First, let me make the disclaimer that neither fenbendazole nor pyrantel pamoate 2.27mg/ml is approved for use in kittens in the U.S.  However, they are both approved for use in kittens in other countries, and vets do use them both in the U.S. to treat kittens in an off-label manner.

The safest agent is the pyrantel pamoate.  You have the most dilute version sold, so you will have to give the kittens quite a bit of the liquid.  At this strength, the dosage will be 1.1 mls per pound of body weight.  If the kittens weigh just under 2 pounds, I would give them 2.25 mls of the liquid each.  The treatment needs to be repeated in three weeks, but remember to weigh them again before the next treatment, as they probably will have gained weight.  There is a bit of leeway with the dose, so you can round up to the nearest 1/4 of a ml when calculating it next time.

Good luck with the little ones!

Jessica  
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentThank you so Much for your help : ) I really appreciate it


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Jessica

Expertise

The areas in which I have gained the most experience are cat health and feral cat management/rescue. I provide supportive care to chronically ill cats, hospice care to terminally ill cats and also am involved in trap-neuter-return efforts. My specialities lie in taming feral cats and in the allopathic treatment of cats with illnesses or special needs. I also have owned Siamese, Himalayans, Abyssinians, Russian Blues, Savannahs, Bengals, Peterbalds, Don Sphynx and Oriental Shorthairs and am well-versed in cat breeds as well as cat behavior and nutrition.

Experience

I have 15 years of extensive experience with cats ranging from breeding to medical care. My daily routine consists of caring for cats with diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney failure, feline leukemia, feline AIDS as well as feral cats. I have experience with liver patients, heart patients, feline infectious peritonitis, cancer, recovery from amputation and trauma, congenital deformities and most every disease in between. I have assisted cats giving birth and hand-nursed kittens who were neglected by their mother from 2 days old through weaning.

Education/Credentials
15 years' hands-on experience

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