The
most common tapeworm is transmitted through fleas. The flea tapeworm has tiny
spikes on its head and looks like ‘dirty tape’ when whole. Tapeworms are in
segments; each segment carries eggs and operates individually. Signs of
tapeworm include egg sacks around the anus, egg sacks look like rice grains and
may or may not be moving. They are very irritating to your dog this may
influence your dog to pull his bum along the floor using his legs, this action
is known as ‘scooting’. Tapeworm larvae develop in the internal organs and the
adult Tapeworm will live in the small intestine of your dog. Dogs contract
tapeworms by eating fleas that have eaten tapeworm eggs. Flea tapeworms can
affect humans too meaning they are zoonotic, humans get tapeworms by ingesting
infected fleas or soil. The toxocara
canis tapeworm is responsible for the disease toxocariasis. The worms are
released in the faeces of the dog and are normally small with points at both
ends. Treatment of tapeworms includes worming tablets starting when the dog is
about 2-3 weeks old and continuing regularly until the dog is about 3 months
old and annually thereafter.
