Our older cat has developed a huge appetite! We have almost doubled the amount of food we give her each day. It seems the more we give her the more she wants. We were hoping that more food would keep her from bringing those mice she finds into the house. She has gained some weight--which is good we think--but we are wondering, could she have a tapeworm?

Signed,

Always Hungry

Dear Hungry,

There are several clues in your question that may help me to advise you. I see that she is an older, indoor/outdoor cat, a "mouser," whose change in eating habits has your attention.

Your question is a good one. A tapeworm is certainly one possibility. Keep in mind that when your cat or dog for that matter, has a worm infection, you may or may not see signs of the worm itself on your pet's hind end.

Both indoor and outdoor cats can be exposed to the tapeworm-causing vectors or carriers--fleas and mice. Often, pets with parasites can have multiple types of parasitic infection at the same time.

To diagnose a parasitic infection, a simple test on a stool sample called a fecal float (a microscopic exam for parasite eggs) is a good place to begin.

The test requires a small amount of fresh "poop" picked out of the cat box or off the ground, depending on your cat's bathroom. You can use a plastic bag over your hand to pick it up then just turn the bag inside out and you've got it. Drop it by the office and you will have the results the same day.

Treatment for tapeworm and other parasites is, most commonly, an oral medication.

So, the best place to begin is in the cat box! We recommend a yearly screening for all pets for the presence of parasitic infection. Some infections can be passed from pets to people, so the fecal float is an inexpensive and simple way to keep both your pets and their people healthy.

'Till the next time,

Dr. B