Dog diseases : Taenia
Taenia Life Cycle
If your dog has tapeworm, it must have eaten an animal already contaminated (called an intermediate host) by this parasite. This tapeworm lives in the small intestine of dogs and cats. Like all parasites in this group, they need an intermediate host to complete their cycle.
An intermediate host is another individual different from the final host, the dog in this case, where the parasite is transformed and/or continues its development.
What is the intermediate host of tapeworm Dipylidium caninum?
Usually it's the chip. It is curious that an external parasite carries an internal parasite. This internal parasite will end its life cycle when the flea is swallowed by the dog, while it licks itself or when it chews on the base of its tail.
Not all fleas carry a cysticercus, the infectious form of tapeworm. However, many of them become intermediate hosts when they ingest the embryos of this parasite through the air. Inside the chip, a series of transformations take place, until the cysticercal phase is reached. Once the dog swallows the flea, the tapeworm will release itself into its digestive tract and begin its evolution, turning into an adult tapeworm.
The time between ingestion of a contaminated flea and adult tapeworm in the dog's small intestine is approximately 15 - 20 days.
Symptoms of a dog contaminated with tapeworm
Usually, a tapeworm infection is asymptomatic. Unlike other diseases that cause loss of appetite or diarrhea, in this case you will not realize that your dog is infected. In case of severe infestations, such as when a dog is contaminated by several parasites at the same time, some symptoms may appear: rough coat, very lean body, diarrhea, swollen belly.
If it is a domestic dog that is being cared for, the only lead that can help you know that your dog is infected with tapeworm is the presence of pregnant rings in the stool.
What are pregnant rings?
Are a kind of egg bag that the tapeworm expels outside with the stool. Even if they move, they are not worms (or aliens). It is a kind of package containing the eggs of an adult tapeworm. It looks like a grain of rice that stretches and shrinks.
After spending a few days out of the stool or glued to the coat around the dog's anus, they dehydrate and look more and more like sesame seeds. (The grains you find on the hamburger bun)
If you don't notice them because you don't see where your dog defecates, you can find them on the dog's bed, in the coat around the tail, or around the anus. If they are dry and throw a drop of water at them, you will see that they recover their rice grain shape. Get rid of them as quickly and carefully as possible.
Previously, it was thought that the infection of this type of tapeworm was common from the age of 6 months. Indeed, until this age, the dog does not acquire the habit of biting its tail. However, today, it is more common to see puppies 3 months old contaminated because they ingest a contaminated chip from the mother during breastfeeding or when they lick each other (social behaviour with other dogs).
Diagnosis of tapeworm in dogs
See the pregnant rings in the stool, find them dry or fresh around the anus, in the coat or bed is enough to diagnose an infection of tapeworm Dipylidium caninum. If this is your case, do not hesitate to go to your veterinarian as soon as possible. He will be able to tell you which treatment is best for your dog.
Treatments for tapeworms in dogs
The treatment is simple and effective, but like all pests, it cannot be ruled out that over the years they may develop some resistance to conventional pest control products. Praziquantel is the drug for its price, efficacy and safety. A single dose may not be enough, sometimes it is recommended to repeat the tapeworm treatment after 3 weeks.
Nevertheless, you can find it in many products related to milbemycin oxime. It can also be found in other antiparasitic agents (pyrantel, fenbendazole), used against almost all other parasites of your dog (Toxocara, Trichuris...). It can be very useful to administer praziquantel with one of these other pest control products on a regular basis. If you take your dog to green areas, parks, the beach, or if he is with other dogs, he should be treated every 3 months.
In order to control the tapeworm, there is one thing that is essential:
If you do not give your dog good flea treatment, you will only have a time out. If your dog swallows another contaminated flea, after three weeks you will have the same problem again. If a new tapeworm develops, the praziquantel you have already given it will be useless. Because the praziquantel does not have a very high residual activity, that is, it does not remain indefinitely in your dog's body.
Thus, the key point of tapeworm treatment in dogs is to eliminate fleas by using one of the following products:
Flea stamp (afoxolaner, fluranaler, spinosad)
Pipette based on seramectin or imidacloprid and permethrin
Necklace based on imidacloprid and flumethrin, or deltamethrin. Also check the atmosphere in which the dog lives.
If you have areas in your home that are prone to fleas, such as a shelter where you store firewood, you will need to disinfect the area. You can use flea bombs, or spray the place from time to time with permethrin. Otherwise, you risk a new infection when your dog's collar is no longer effective.
If you don't know how often you need to deworm your dog to prevent tapeworm, feel free to read this article. It is also important to be regular when it comes to veterinary visits.
Treatments for tapeworms in dogs
Can tapeworms affect humans?
Humans can be the intermediate host if we accidentally swallow a contaminated chip. In an adult this is quite rare, but if you have a baby living with your dog, it is very important to control fleas.
If your dog has tapeworm, it must have eaten an animal already contaminated (called an intermediate host) by this parasite. This tapeworm lives in the small intestine of dogs and cats. Like all parasites in this group, they need an intermediate host to complete their cycle.
An intermediate host is another individual different from the final host, the dog in this case, where the parasite is transformed and/or continues its development.
What is the intermediate host of tapeworm Dipylidium caninum?
Usually it's the chip. It is curious that an external parasite carries an internal parasite. This internal parasite will end its life cycle when the flea is swallowed by the dog, while it licks itself or when it chews on the base of its tail.
Not all fleas carry a cysticercus, the infectious form of tapeworm. However, many of them become intermediate hosts when they ingest the embryos of this parasite through the air. Inside the chip, a series of transformations take place, until the cysticercal phase is reached. Once the dog swallows the flea, the tapeworm will release itself into its digestive tract and begin its evolution, turning into an adult tapeworm.
The time between ingestion of a contaminated flea and adult tapeworm in the dog's small intestine is approximately 15 - 20 days.
Symptoms of a dog contaminated with tapeworm
Usually, a tapeworm infection is asymptomatic. Unlike other diseases that cause loss of appetite or diarrhea, in this case you will not realize that your dog is infected. In case of severe infestations, such as when a dog is contaminated by several parasites at the same time, some symptoms may appear: rough coat, very lean body, diarrhea, swollen belly.
If it is a domestic dog that is being cared for, the only lead that can help you know that your dog is infected with tapeworm is the presence of pregnant rings in the stool.
What are pregnant rings?
Are a kind of egg bag that the tapeworm expels outside with the stool. Even if they move, they are not worms (or aliens). It is a kind of package containing the eggs of an adult tapeworm. It looks like a grain of rice that stretches and shrinks.
After spending a few days out of the stool or glued to the coat around the dog's anus, they dehydrate and look more and more like sesame seeds. (The grains you find on the hamburger bun)
If you don't notice them because you don't see where your dog defecates, you can find them on the dog's bed, in the coat around the tail, or around the anus. If they are dry and throw a drop of water at them, you will see that they recover their rice grain shape. Get rid of them as quickly and carefully as possible.
Previously, it was thought that the infection of this type of tapeworm was common from the age of 6 months. Indeed, until this age, the dog does not acquire the habit of biting its tail. However, today, it is more common to see puppies 3 months old contaminated because they ingest a contaminated chip from the mother during breastfeeding or when they lick each other (social behaviour with other dogs).
Diagnosis of tapeworm in dogs
See the pregnant rings in the stool, find them dry or fresh around the anus, in the coat or bed is enough to diagnose an infection of tapeworm Dipylidium caninum. If this is your case, do not hesitate to go to your veterinarian as soon as possible. He will be able to tell you which treatment is best for your dog.
Treatments for tapeworms in dogs
The treatment is simple and effective, but like all pests, it cannot be ruled out that over the years they may develop some resistance to conventional pest control products. Praziquantel is the drug for its price, efficacy and safety. A single dose may not be enough, sometimes it is recommended to repeat the tapeworm treatment after 3 weeks.
Nevertheless, you can find it in many products related to milbemycin oxime. It can also be found in other antiparasitic agents (pyrantel, fenbendazole), used against almost all other parasites of your dog (Toxocara, Trichuris...). It can be very useful to administer praziquantel with one of these other pest control products on a regular basis. If you take your dog to green areas, parks, the beach, or if he is with other dogs, he should be treated every 3 months.
In order to control the tapeworm, there is one thing that is essential:
If you do not give your dog good flea treatment, you will only have a time out. If your dog swallows another contaminated flea, after three weeks you will have the same problem again. If a new tapeworm develops, the praziquantel you have already given it will be useless. Because the praziquantel does not have a very high residual activity, that is, it does not remain indefinitely in your dog's body.
Thus, the key point of tapeworm treatment in dogs is to eliminate fleas by using one of the following products:
Flea stamp (afoxolaner, fluranaler, spinosad)
Pipette based on seramectin or imidacloprid and permethrin
Necklace based on imidacloprid and flumethrin, or deltamethrin. Also check the atmosphere in which the dog lives.
If you have areas in your home that are prone to fleas, such as a shelter where you store firewood, you will need to disinfect the area. You can use flea bombs, or spray the place from time to time with permethrin. Otherwise, you risk a new infection when your dog's collar is no longer effective.
If you don't know how often you need to deworm your dog to prevent tapeworm, feel free to read this article. It is also important to be regular when it comes to veterinary visits.
Treatments for tapeworms in dogs
Can tapeworms affect humans?
Humans can be the intermediate host if we accidentally swallow a contaminated chip. In an adult this is quite rare, but if you have a baby living with your dog, it is very important to control fleas.
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