Flukes: Pancreatic and Liver in Cats

Pancreatic and Liver Flukes in Cats

Pancreatic and liver flukes are worms or parasites that infect domestic cats. They infect the biliary tract, which is part of the liver and gallbladder that supports the flow of bile, and the pancreas.

Pancreatic and liver flukes are caused by the trematodes (worms)

During the life cycle of flukes, the eggs passed in cat feces are ingested by snails. A toad or lizard must then ingest the snail and in turn, the cat must ingest the toad or lizard.

Cats are at risk if they are outside, predatory and live in endemic areas where these flukes exist, especially in Florida, the Caribbean and Hawaii. There is no breed or sex predilection.

What to Watch For

Few infected cats actually develop clinical signs. However, some typical signs include:

Diagnosis of Pancreatic and Liver Flukes in Cats

Treatment of Pancreatic and Liver Flukes in Cats

The level of treatment depends on the clinical status of the patient.

Home Care

Administer all medication as directed by your veterinarian. Cats should be prevented from hunting toads and lizards in endemic areas.