Tapeworms

Tapeworms are one of the most common types of “worms” found in the dog & cat. Diagnosis is made by seeing the tapeworm segments in the stools. Microscopic examination of a fecal specimen usually does not diagnosis tapeworms. This is because the microscopic eggs & segments are not passed regularly. There may be several in a bowel movement & then none seen for a week or two. If seen only once, they prove that the pet has a tapeworm infection.

Tapeworm segments may be found on the surface of freshly passed stools, where they look like small grains of “rice” or “cucumber seeds”. Segments may or may not be seen moving. These segments may sometimes be seen “crawling” out of the rectum or attached to the hair in the rectal area. They sometimes may be found in the pet’s bedding. When dead, they can resemble “dried rice”.

Transmission: Tapeworms must go through an “intermediate host”, which is primarily the flea in dogs & cats. Infested birds or rabbits can also spread the parasite to your pet. Fleas eat into the segments passed by the pet & then become infected with tapeworm larvae. The pet then eats the flea when it gets on your pet’s skin & therefore becomes infested with tapeworms.

Treatment: Effective medication is available only through your veterinarian. The medication is available in a tablet or injection form. Over the counter medication will not be effective against tapeworms!

Prevention: As in all diseases, prevention is far superior to treatment.

1. Keep pets free of fleas!
2. Do not allow pet’s to eat birds, rabbits rodents etc.
3. Treat infested pets as we direct.

Public Health: Humans cannot be infected unless they eat infested fleas! Should a child eat tapeworm segments, it will not cause any problem whatsoever. The intermediate host (which is the flea) would have to be ingested to cause tapeworm infestation.