Expert: Jessica - 6/21/2011

Question
Hi Jessica,

I just read your answer to a previous and similar question, but I just wanted a little more elaboration for the situation I am in.

We just took in two little kittens, around 9-10 weeks old.  We have discovered that they indeed have roundworms.  Since we can't afford to take them to the vet at the moment for some de-worming, we were told we could get some medication at a local store, and we bought some Crazy Little Kitty wormer.  We administered it less than a week ago, and since then haven't noticed anything better.  In fact, it seems as though one of the kittens is getting thinner and less healthy, and the diarrhea hasn't seemed to lighten up either.

After reading your answer to another question, we learned that the product we purchased wasn't what we were hoping for, but we had no other choice that we knew of.  My mother wants to give the sicker one more of the solution, but it already isn't doing anything to help, and I can only think that more might make the situation worse.

Are there any products on the line that will be effective to help them, but wont break the bank?

Answer
Hi Katie,

I would recommend that you buy some canine Panacur-C for dogs 10 pounds or under. You may be able to find this at the same place where you bought the Crazy Little Kitty Wormer. It's available at most pet stores and online. Assuming the kittens are 3-5 pounds, I would recommend giving each kitten 1/2 a packet, mixed into canned food, once a day (if the kittens are more than 5 pounds, give them the whole packet). For worms, the kittens only need to be treated for 3 days. But because the kittens are suffering so severely and are having weight loss, I would fear that they could have a protozoan germ like giardia. To cover that germ, the kittens should be treated with Panacur once a day for 7-10 days. That means you should buy 3 boxes of Panacur to cover the full treatment for both kittens, at half a packet each day.

If the kittens aren't responding to this within the first 3 days or so, they should really see a vet. Some other germs such as coccidia can cause bad diarrhea, and they will require a different antibiotic.

I hope that works for you!

Jessica