So my mentor suggested deworming a minimum of twice prior to my kittens going to their forever homes. (My previous vet suggested to do it at 2,4, and 6 weeks which I think is too much and too young for kittens I knew weren't riddled with worms)
I recently switched to a new vet, and instead of giving deworming medication right off the hop, we tested for ova, parasites and giardia (which from my understanding covers all possible parasites the kittens are likely to have). The results were negative for everything.
My vet suggested to test them again before they go to their new homes, which I plan to do around the time of their 12 week vaccinations. If they test positive at that time, I will treat them with the appropriate medication.
I have since been told by other breeders/ people that adopters EXPECT their kittens to have been given deworming medication prior to taking them home, and that "adopters might not understand why there weren't".
I personally think it's pretty simple... they don't have worms, so therefore I did not treat them for worms... but I am new to breeding, so maybe I just don't understand.
I know the likelihood of kittens having worms is high, but if your cats are indoor only, the chances of them picking up parasites is significantly less than the cat that goes outside.
I work in healthcare, and there is a serious problem with people contracting MRSA and VRE (highly contagious, extremely difficult to treat antibiotic-resistant infections) due to the overuse of antibiotics. What's to stop the parasites our cats normally get from mutating and becoming resistant to the medication, because of its overuse?
And if the deworming medication only treats the problem (if there is one), and isn't preventative like vaccinations, why is it common practice to give your cat/kitten without testing to make sure they need it first?
Sorry for the rant...
What is your take on this?
Maybe I am completely wrong in my thoughts, because I haven't really come across any pet owner/breeder that tests before giving it.
I recently switched to a new vet, and instead of giving deworming medication right off the hop, we tested for ova, parasites and giardia (which from my understanding covers all possible parasites the kittens are likely to have). The results were negative for everything.
My vet suggested to test them again before they go to their new homes, which I plan to do around the time of their 12 week vaccinations. If they test positive at that time, I will treat them with the appropriate medication.
I have since been told by other breeders/ people that adopters EXPECT their kittens to have been given deworming medication prior to taking them home, and that "adopters might not understand why there weren't".
I personally think it's pretty simple... they don't have worms, so therefore I did not treat them for worms... but I am new to breeding, so maybe I just don't understand.
I know the likelihood of kittens having worms is high, but if your cats are indoor only, the chances of them picking up parasites is significantly less than the cat that goes outside.
I work in healthcare, and there is a serious problem with people contracting MRSA and VRE (highly contagious, extremely difficult to treat antibiotic-resistant infections) due to the overuse of antibiotics. What's to stop the parasites our cats normally get from mutating and becoming resistant to the medication, because of its overuse?
And if the deworming medication only treats the problem (if there is one), and isn't preventative like vaccinations, why is it common practice to give your cat/kitten without testing to make sure they need it first?
Sorry for the rant...
What is your take on this?
Maybe I am completely wrong in my thoughts, because I haven't really come across any pet owner/breeder that tests before giving it.