What are tapeworms?
There are various types of tapeworms, and they are more common in dogs and →cats than you might realize. They live inside your dog and are therefore hard to detect. They get their name from their ribbon-like appearance and grow to be about 60cm long. Most worms attach themselves using hook-shaped organs in the small intestine and extract nutrients from the digestive contents of your dog.
Cucumber tapeworm in dogs
The cucumber tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum) is one of the most common tapeworms that dogs can get. They are transmitted by fleas infected with cucumber tapeworm larvae →fleas. The tapeworm lives in your pet's digestive tract and draws nutrients from the food. Note that infected fleas can also be transmitted to humans and thus humans can also become infected with the cucumber tapeworm.
Especially dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors should receive good flea prevention! This helps prevent illness caused by tapeworms.
Fox tapeworm in dogs
As the name suggests, foxes are especially likely to be infected with the so-called fox tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis). Transmission occurs, similar to the cucumber tapeworm, through fleas or rodents. Through direct contact or sniffing/eating feces from worm-infested conspecifics, infected fleas or eggs can enter your dog's system and infect them with the fox tapeworm.
Dog tapeworm in dogs
Especially in southern European countries, the dog tapeworm (Echinococcus granulosus) is known. As intermediate hosts, plant-eating ruminants such as sheep or goats serve, which is why it is mainly found in areas with a lot of sheep and livestock farming. Usually, dogs and cats, but also foxes or badgers, become infected through direct contact or feces.
Symptoms: How do I recognize a tapeworm in my dog?
Since the tapeworm settles comfortably inside your dog, the parasite is usually only discovered late. However, if you know your dog well, you may notice some of the external signs of a worm infestation:
scooting the →rear on the floor, keyword: "sledding"
Loss of appetite and weight
Dull coat
Deficiency symptoms due to nutrient deprivation
A bloated "worm belly" only occurs in dogs when the infestation is already very advanced. This can be observed more often in puppies, very young or immunocompromised dogs, as they suffer much more from a tapeworm infestation.
Note that other pets living in the household may also have been infected with tapeworm!
Treating tapeworms in dogs
If you suspect that your dog may have picked up a tapeworm, you should consult your veterinarian. Ideally, you should also bring along some of your dog's stool, as it will be examined for worms, eggs, or other abnormalities at the clinic.
Depending on which tapeworm your dog is infected with, veterinarians will prescribe the appropriate deworming medication. This is usually tablets that you need to give your dog over several days. Don't worry—with the right treat, you can easily get any medicine into your dog's stomach!
Effectively preventing tapeworms in dogs
Probably the most effective way to protect your pet from tapeworms is good prevention. You can greatly reduce the risk of cucumber tapeworm infection by consistently using →flea treatments.
With a deworming course, however, things are a bit different. Here too, you can of course treat your dog preventively at regular intervals. But keep in mind that a deworming course does not prevent your pet from becoming infected with tapeworms. The course only prevents worms that have already settled in your dog from developing further so that eggs are not excreted and other animals are not infected. Thus, regular deworming and stool checks can help prevent the shedding of infectious tapeworm segments from occurring..
How often you should prophylactically deworm your dog depends on various factors such as diet, living conditions, and environment. Check with your trusted veterinarians, they will be happy to help and can better assess your situation.
