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My Dog Has Tapeworm, What Do I Do?

2016/5/4 10:19:25

Tapeworm, or Dipylidium caninum to give it its scientific name, is a parasite that is most commonly found in the small intestine of dogs. These flat, white worms are segmented, and usually grow to between 4 and 20 inches in length.

They feed by attaching to the intestinal wall by suckers in their mouths, and then siphoning off nutrients from whatever the dog eats. Later in the life cycle the tail segments begin to break off and are passed in the dog's faeces. They contain eggs that can then re-infest the same host or another animal.

A dog cannot become infected by eating the eggs directly, but only by swallowing a flea containing the eggs. The usually happens when a flea larvae eats the tapeworm eggs. Later the flea matures and lives on the dog. When the dog bites at an itchy spot on his coat, he swallows the flea. The tapeworm eggs then hatch and head straight for the intestines where they attach themselves and start to feed. After a time, they mature and the tail segments begin to break off. These are then passed by the dog and the cycle begin anew.

If you can get past the "gross out factor", tapeworms are not actually harmful. These absorb a miniscule amount of nutrients and often cause no irritation at all. In some cases though, the infestation can be severe, and the dog may even begin to show signs of weight loss. It is therefore advisable to treat the dog if there are any signs of tapeworm.

The clearest indication is tapeworm eggs in the faeces. A common belief is that a dog that scoots along the ground has tapeworm, but this is not usually the case. The behavior is more commonly due to skin irritation around the anal are, or to blocked anal sacs.

If your dog has tapeworm, the good news is that it is very easy to treat with either a vet prescribed or over-the-counter de-worming medication. Be aware though, that many of the commercial de-wormers contain a mild pesticide, and prolonged use may cause other health problems.

Veterinary medicines work in a different way. They dissolve the tapeworm's protective outer layer, so that the worm is digested and then passed from the body.

Most dogs will get tapeworm at some time or another, but there are some things you can do to reduce the chance of your dog being infected.

To begin with you can have your dog de-wormed every 3 months or so. Most de-worming medications protect against other parasitic worms too, including hookworms, roundworms and other parasites

It is also important to keep your dog free of fleas, as tapeworms cannot be passed without them. Simply give your dog a monthly flea preventative and keep the dog's bedding and environment free of these pests.

Bear in mind also, that although it is extremely rare, some tapeworm species can be passed from dogs to humans. And as they're so easy to control, why take the risk?

Visit dogsanddogtraining.com or more information about dog worms, including advice on dealing with tapeworms in dogs.