What are tapeworms?
There are different types of tapeworms, and they occur in dogs as well as →cats more frequently than you might realize. They live inside your dog and are therefore difficult to detect. They get their name from their ribbon-like appearance and can grow up to about 60cm long. Most worms attach themselves using hook-shaped organs in the small intestine and extract nutrients from the food mass of your dog.
Cucumber tapeworm in dogs
The cucumber tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum) is one of the most common tapeworms that can affect dogs. They are transmitted by fleas infected with cucumber tapeworm larvae →transmitted by fleas. The tapeworm lives in your pet's digestive tract and extracts nutrients from the food mass there. Note that infected fleas can also be transmitted to humans, allowing them to become infected with the cucumber tapeworm as well.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Vor allem Hunde, die viel draußen unterwegs sind, sollten eine gute Flohprophylaxe erhalten! So beugst du einer Erkrankung durch Bandwürmer vor.
Fox tapeworm in dogs
As the name suggests, primarily foxes become infected with the so-called fox tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis). It is transmitted, similar to the cucumber tapeworm, by fleas or rodents. Through direct contact or sniffing/eating the feces of infected conspecifics, infected fleas or eggs can enter your dog's organism and infect them with the fox tapeworm.
Dog tapeworm in dogs
Especially in southern European countries, the dog tapeworm (Echinococcus granulosus) is known. Herbivorous ruminants such as sheep or goats serve as intermediate hosts, which is why it occurs mainly in areas with significant 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 comfortably settles inside your dog, the parasite is usually discovered late. However, those who know their dog well can recognize some of the external signs of a worm infestation:
- →Itching
- sliding on the →bottom, keyword: "sledding"
- Loss of appetite and weight
- Dull coat
- Deficiencies due to nutrient deprivation
- →Diarrhea
- →Vomiting
- →Constipation
Dogs only have a bloated "worm belly" when the infestation has progressed very far. This can be observed more frequently in puppies, very young, or immunocompromised dogs, as they suffer significantly more from a tapeworm infestation.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Beachte, dass sich evlt. auch andere im Haushalt lebende Tiere mit dem Bandwurm angesteckt haben könnten!
Treatment of a tapeworm in dogs
If you suspect that your dog may have caught a tapeworm, you should visit your veterinarian. Ideally, you should also bring along some feces, as this will be examined for worms, eggs, or other abnormalities in practice.
Depending on which tapeworm your dog has been infected with, veterinarians will prescribe the appropriate deworming medication. This usually consists of tablets that you need to give your pet 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
The most effective method to protect your pet from tapeworms is good prevention. You can significantly reduce the risk of infection from cucumber tapeworms through a consistent →treatment with flea medications.
However, a deworming treatment is a bit different. Here, you can, of course, prophylactically treat your dog at regular intervals. But note that a deworming treatment does not prevent your pet from becoming infected with tapeworms. The treatment only prevents already established worms in the dog from developing further, so that eggs are not excreted and potentially infect other animals. Thus, through regular deworming and fecal examination, the excretion of infectious tapeworm segments can be prevented.
How often you should prophylactically deworm your dog depends on various circumstances such as diet, living conditions, and care. Inform yourself best with your trusted veterinarians, they will surely be happy to help you and can better assess your situation.
