Caring for working dogs

Tapeworm Infections in Dogs: Everything You Need to Know

26 March 2018

Jose Reid

Your pet dog can be affected by a wide range of different parasites. One of the most common parasites which can affect dogs is the tapeworm. Below is a guide to everything you need to know about tapeworms.

What is a tapeworm?

A tapeworm is a parasite which lives inside your dog's digestive system. The most likely route of infection is your pet eating tapeworm eggs which have been excreted by another infected animal. The eggs hatch in the intestines, and the tapeworms then attach themselves to the walls of the digestive tract. There, they extract nutrients from the food in the digestive tract.

What are the symptoms of a tapeworm infection?

While not every animal which is infected with tapeworms will display symptoms, you should keep your eyes open for the following signs:

• Your dog may scratch the area around its anus
• Your dog may lose weight
• Your dog may not grow at the correct rate
• Your dog may become weak as a result of anaemia
• Your dog may develop diarrhoea
• You may see small white shapes in your dog's faeces which are about  the same size as a piece of rice

How is a tapeworm infection diagnosed and treated?

If you suspect that your dog has tapeworms, you should take them to a vet as soon as possible. The vet will take a sample of your dog's faeces, which will be examined for signs of tapeworms. If small sections of tapeworm are detected, the vet will use a microscope to establish the precise type of tapeworm. The vet will they prescribe a deworming medication for your dog. The deworming medication is normally given in the form of an injection or an oral tablet. The medication is toxic to tapeworms so it will kill off any parasites which are living inside your dog. The dead tapeworms will be passed when your dog has a bowel movement. Some deworming medication causes the tapeworms to dissolve in the bowel so you will not see them as they are expelled from your dog. Your vet will let you know if they are using this type of medication so you do not waste your time examining your dogs faeces for signs that the treatment is working. If you have any concerns about your dog's health or if you would like to find out more about this subject, you should contact your vet today.

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