What is tapeworm in dogs?
Tapeworms are a parasite that can live in the small intestine of dogs and other animals. Although there are several parasites that qualify as Tapeworms, the most common tapeworm is flat, white in color, and can grow up to 8 inches in length. They have flat heads which contain a hook-like mouth, and the worm uses the hook-like mouth to attach itself to the dogs small intestines.
Tapeworms are made up of many segments and the tail end of the segments can break off. This is usually the first sign that your dog has tapeworm since they can be found in your dog’s bowel movement or around the anus. These segments often look like grains of rice.
Causes for tapeworm in dogs
The most common cause for a tapeworm in dogs is when a dog ingests a flea that contains tapeworm eggs. Although it’s still uncertain, it’s thought that the contact between the flea larvae and tapeworm eggs is occurs in contaminated carpeting or upholstery. As the flea is ingested and passes through the dogs body, the tapeworm larvae hatch and attach to the dogs small intestinal lining.
Symptoms of tapeworm in dogs
Although tapeworm in dogs is almost never fatal, in large numbers, tapeworm can make your dog lose weight and become lethargic. If your dog is constantly scooting his/her rear across the floor, he/she may have tapeworms.
Dogs do this because the tail end segments of the tapeworm are irritating to the dogs hind quarters. Occasionally, when a worm detaches from the intestines, it will pass onto the stomach. When this happens, the dog will more than likely throw up the worm because of irritation. In this case, the entire worm can be seen in the dogs vomit.
Diagnosing and treating tapeworm in dogs
Diagnosis of tapeworm is achieved through either a visual examination or examination of the stool. The visual examination looks for segments of the tapeworm around your dogs hind quarters. The examination of the stool examines the dogs bowel movement for any signs of tapeworm. Treating the tapeworm is relatively easy and very effective. A drug which kills tapeworm can be given either orally or through means of an injection.
Prevention of tapeworm in dogs
There are steps to be taken for the owner that will prevent the dog from getting tapeworms again. Keeping the dogs environment clean and free of fleas and residual feces (particularly of other dogs) is essential to maintaining the health of your dog and reducing the risk of infection with tapeworm larvae.
Can humans get tapeworm from dogs?
Yes, but it’s very rare. Although there are a few tapeworm species that are harmful to humans, those types are not common in the United States, so it’s very rare that a serious infection will happen in this country. Although there are rare reports of the tapeworm, Dipylidium effecting children, these infections are not associated with significant or otherwise untreatable diseases.
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