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Due to Covid-19, I cannot access a vet and my cat seems to have taperworm (rice shape & he dragged his bottom on the floor). Is it safe to purchase an OTC dewormer ? Which brand is most recommended? Thank you!

Due to Covid-19, I cannot access a vet and my cat seems to have taperworm (rice shape & he dragged his bottom on the floor). Is it safe to purchase an OTC dewormer ? Which brand is most recommended? Thank you!

Updated On April 12th, 2020

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Male | neutered | 1 year and 5 months old | 10 lbs

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Answered By Anna M., DVM

Veterinarian

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There are many over the counter brands that are appropriate for treating tapeworm. The active ingredient is typically praziquantel. We cannot give specific dosing instructions without examining an animal first, but typically the bottle provides dosing suggestions based on weight, and it should be specifically labeled for use in cats. You can reach out to your vet with any questions - even if they're not currently seeing patients, most vet clinics are still available for phone consultations. If so, I would recommend dropping off a fecal sample for your vet to evaluate, as many tapeworm infections can also go hand-in-hand with other intestinal parasite infections, such as roundworms or hookworms. Hope this helps!

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