Did you know that cats need monthly internal and external parasite control, just like dogs?
This is Peggy, she was recently diagnosed with Babesia felis. This is an extremely rare find, especially in our part of the country!
Peggy was brought to our practice for a routine sterilisation. Upon checking our standard “pre-surgery” blood smear, we found some very shady looking red blood cells.
Having our suspicions of what may be the matter with Peggy, we sent blood smears away to the laboratory for further testing. Low and behold, Babesia!
The kicker? Peggy appeared perfectly healthy during the months before and the morning of her spay! Cats are masters at hiding their pain and illness. That is one of the reasons it is so important to bring your cat in for annual check-ups and to stay up to date with their vaccinations, deworming and external parasite control.
Babesiosis is a disease that is transmitted by ticks. It is caused by a parasite which infects red blood cells. It affects a wide range of domestic and wild animals, and occasionally even humans!
Controlling exposure to ticks will help keep your cat healthy and safe, by preventing diseases like babesia and many others that are also caused by internal and external parasites.
There are some great feline specific products available like Broadline, Frontline, Bravecto and Revolution. DO NOT USE ANY DOG PRODUCTS ON CATS!
Be sure to stop by and get some spot-on feline specific advice from one of our friendly receptionists.
For more information about babesiosis in cats, please visit the trusted petMD website – https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/infectious-parasitic/c_ct_babesiosis
