Tapeworms in Dogs – What You Need To Know

Many people believe that tapeworms only come from fleas. Other people believe tapeworms in dogs can only be contracted from the feces of other animals that have tapeworms. Both of these methods of transmission are possible.

There are several types of tapeworms that can affect dogs and the method of their transmission varies. The most common tapeworm is Dipylidium caninum. This tapeworm’s life cycle starts as an egg passed in the dog’s feces. The egg is then eaten by a flea or louse and develops into an intermediate stage called a cysticercoid. At this stage the tapeworm is not capable of infecting a dog.

However, once the dog eats the flea containing the cysticercoid it becomes infected. The cysticeroid develops into an adult tapeworm and the cycle starts again.

Another common tapeworm that infects dogs is the Taenia pisiformis. This type of tapeworm has a life cycle that requires an intermediate host, usually small rodents. The rodent must eat the tapeworm to be infected.

There are also some tapeworms a dog can catch by eating the undercooked meat of goats, cattle, and sheep.

A less common tapeworm in dogs is called Echinococcus multilocularis. This tapeworm is normally found only in wild dogs and is transmitted through an intermediate host, again usually a rodent. This infection is of special concern because if a human accidentally ingests an egg from this tapeworm, the intermediate host can develop in the human and cause serious disease. This tapeworm isn’t a common problem in dogs but it is a very serious infection that affects humans.

Tapeworm segments that have dried up usually look like rice grains or sesame seeds. Worm segments that have not dried up will appear to be moving.

If you spot a white thing that looks like rice sticking to the hair around your dog’s rear, you are seeing only one segment of the tapeworm. As the tapeworm wiggles around it spreads more tapeworm eggs. These are then eaten by fleas. When a dog eats the flea it starts the cycle all over again.

The only really effective and safe medications that kill tapeworms in dogs are prescription dewormers that are only available from a veterinarian.

Common dog Illnesses

Unfortunately there are many common dog illnesses and diseases that can be life-threatening to your pet. Many of these illnesses are viral and the easiest way to prevent them is by vaccination.

If you think that your pet is very ill, you’ll need to monitor your dog’s behavior and make notes on what you observe. Then call your vet as soon as possible and report your observations.

Some of the most common illnesses in pet dogs include heartworm, bloat, canine distemper, parvovirus, tapeworm, and rabies.

Heartworm is a parasitic disease that is spread by mosquito bites. Once a dog is infected, the parasitic worms grow and live inside the dog’s heart chambers. The most common symptoms of this disease are coughing, difficulty in breathing, an aversion to exercise, and congestive heart failure. Heartworm is very difficult to treat and the sad news is that many dogs don’t survive heartworm treatment. The good news is that heartworm is easily preventable by giving your dog a monthly dose of a heartworm medication available at most pet stores.

Bloat is a life threatening condition commonly found in large dog breeds like Great Danes and Mastiffs. Bloat occurs when a dog overeats or eats its meals too quickly on a regular basis. This causes gas or fluid to build-up in the dog’s stomach. The stomach can then become twisted and will cut off circulation to the internal organs. If this serious condition is not treated immediately it can kill your pet.

Symptoms of bloat include:
• Dry heaves that occur every 5 to 30 minutes
• Weakness or collapsing
• Swollen, bloated abdomen
• Restlessness or anxiety
• Lack of normal digestive sounds in the abdomen
• Tapeworms in the dog’s feces

Another common dog illness is canine distemper, a dangerous and incurable disease that can seriously affect your dog’s health and longevity. Treatment for distemper can be expensive. If your dog survives canine distemper it may suffer neurological damage for the rest of its life.

Symptoms in the early stages of canine distemper are coughing, diarrhea, and mucus discharge from the eyes and nose. As the disease progressively worsens and enters the final stage, the dog will have seizures.

Adult dogs have a fifty percent chance of surviving canine distemper but unfortunately, puppies have only about a twenty percent chance of survival. It is vital that your dog receive a distemper vaccine shot to prevent catching this deadly disease.

Parvovirus is another viral illness that is especially dangerous for puppies. The symptoms of parvovirus include vomiting, decreased appetite, bloody diarrhea and lethargy. Treatment requires lots of fluids and antibiotics. Parvovirus kills about eighty percent of the dogs that become infected with this disease, but it is preventable through vaccination.

Tapeworm is a common dog illness caused by parasites and affects many dogs. Tapeworm parasites live inside a dog’s intestines and can grow as long as eight inches. When a dog gets fleas and swallows one that contains tapeworm eggs, the condition will spread.

It’s easy to tell if your dog has tapeworms because you’ll see small white segments of the worm moving around in your dog’s feces. Tapeworms can easily be treated with medication taken orally.

Rabies is a very serious viral disease that spreads from one animal to another through saliva. Rabies will cause an animal to become aggressive, and it can easily spread the disease through bite wounds. Rabies is deadly and contagious to humans also. In all U.S. cities dogs are required to have rabies vaccinations.

The symptoms of rabies in the beginning stages include fevers, behavioral changes, and slow eye reflexes. As the disease gets progressively worse, a dog will become increasingly aggressive, bark excessively and without reason, and is bad-tempered and restless. In its advanced stage rabies leads to coma and death. Dogs who contract rabies are required to be euthanized.

No ailment in your dog should be considered just a common dog illness and left untreated. The consequences can be the loss of a dearly beloved pet.