Tapeworms: What They Are and Where They Come From
Tapeworms are flat, white worms that are made up of segments. Each segment is roughly the size of a grain of rice and they are shedded regularly through your dog’s feces as they grow. As they get bigger and longer, tapeworms can begin to resemble their namesake form—tape. Tapeworms attach themselves to the lining walls of your dog’s intestines using their hooked suction mouths. From there they feed and grow inside your dog.
There are different types of tapeworms, but the most common is caused by ingesting an infected flea. Fleas can carry the tapeworm’s larvae and if your dog swallows the flea—either through biting and licking themselves because of a flea infestation or simply due to regular grooming—an adult tapeworm will grow inside your dog’s intestines.
Symptoms
Tapeworms can grown between 4 to 6 inches in length. You will not see the actual adult tapeworm, but its segments that fall off and pass through your dog’s feces. You may also see them crawling around your dog’s hind end or on their bedding, or even in their feces.
The reason why the segments come off is because they die and dry out, becoming hard specks that can stick to the hair on your dog’s backside. Some dogs will scoot (or dragging their behinds across the floor) or lick their hind quarters frequently.
Though it is rare, if tapeworm segments get ingested into your dog’s stomach, they can make it vomit. Weight loss is a common symptom of a heavy tapeworm infection.
Diagnosis
Your veterinarian can confirm a diagnosis after either seeing segments on your dog or seeing segments or eggs in your dog’s feces under a microscope. Several fecal samples are sometimes needed, since tapeworms eggs and segments are not passed every time.
Treatment
There are many safe prescription treatments that treat tapeworms inside your dog. Your veterinarian will choose the right one for your dog. They can be given by tablet or as a shot. The medicine dissolves the worms, so they will not pass through your dog when it defecates.
How To Prevent Tapeworms
Because fleas are the main cause of tapeworms, control them in your home, yard and in your pet. Talk to your vet about flea preventatives. Working with your veterinarian on keeping a de-worming plan for your dog is a wise decision. Don’t let your dog wander unsupervised in places where other animals have been, such as dog parks or wooded areas. It is important to clean up after your dog in your yard or in parks.
Though rare, people can develop tapeworms from their pets. You have to swallow an infected flea, of course, and this happens most in children. Be safe and wash your hands after playing with animals or outside.
There are different types of tapeworms, but the most common is caused by ingesting an infected flea. Fleas can carry the tapeworm’s larvae and if your dog swallows the flea—either through biting and licking themselves because of a flea infestation or simply due to regular grooming—an adult tapeworm will grow inside your dog’s intestines.
Symptoms
Tapeworms can grown between 4 to 6 inches in length. You will not see the actual adult tapeworm, but its segments that fall off and pass through your dog’s feces. You may also see them crawling around your dog’s hind end or on their bedding, or even in their feces.
The reason why the segments come off is because they die and dry out, becoming hard specks that can stick to the hair on your dog’s backside. Some dogs will scoot (or dragging their behinds across the floor) or lick their hind quarters frequently.
Though it is rare, if tapeworm segments get ingested into your dog’s stomach, they can make it vomit. Weight loss is a common symptom of a heavy tapeworm infection.
Diagnosis
Your veterinarian can confirm a diagnosis after either seeing segments on your dog or seeing segments or eggs in your dog’s feces under a microscope. Several fecal samples are sometimes needed, since tapeworms eggs and segments are not passed every time.
Treatment
There are many safe prescription treatments that treat tapeworms inside your dog. Your veterinarian will choose the right one for your dog. They can be given by tablet or as a shot. The medicine dissolves the worms, so they will not pass through your dog when it defecates.
How To Prevent Tapeworms
Because fleas are the main cause of tapeworms, control them in your home, yard and in your pet. Talk to your vet about flea preventatives. Working with your veterinarian on keeping a de-worming plan for your dog is a wise decision. Don’t let your dog wander unsupervised in places where other animals have been, such as dog parks or wooded areas. It is important to clean up after your dog in your yard or in parks.
Though rare, people can develop tapeworms from their pets. You have to swallow an infected flea, of course, and this happens most in children. Be safe and wash your hands after playing with animals or outside.
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