Tapeworms in Pets

By Frank Will

Tapeworms in pets can spark immediate fear in most pet owners as there are numerous horror stories about how big these worms can actually grow. There are nine major species of tapeworms found in the United States, and seven of them will select either your dog or your cat as the host body to infect.

If this infection is left untreated, because of their enormous size, they can block off your pets intestines.

The horror stories about the size of these tapeworms are not stories, as there have been several reported cases that they can grow as large as six feet inside of your pet. And during that time they are not only infecting your pet, they are also competing for and taking from your pet several critical nutrients that their bodies need to survive.

Tapeworms themselves have no digestive system, but they absorb the nutrients that they are stealing from your pet through their skin. These types are worms are different than other worms, in that they are segmented. Their body has a head, a neck, and than several other segments. The head portion has muscular grooves that enable them to attach to your pets intestines.

These parasites are also different in that each segment has its own reproductive organs and these segments are constantly forming and reproducing in the neck portion as the end of the tapeworm is being cast off as they mature. The mature portions that are cast off can usually be found in your cat or dogs anus, and when passed by your pet, if still alive, you can see them move.

If they are not alive and have dried up, they will resemble small grains of uncooked rice. If you see either of these signs, your pet has been infected by tapeworms.

Life cycle:

Tapeworms in pets have two types of hosts that they infect; the intermediate and the definitive host. Depending on the species of the tapeworm, the intermediate host can be fleas, fish, sheep, goats, rodents, pigs, deer, or rabbits. The definitive host in two of the nine species is man, but the other seven will be either your dog or cat.

The intermediate host will ingest the eggs of the tapeworm, and once ingested, they are immediately infected. They than travel directly to the small intestine and this immature form of this parasite starts to migrate throughout this hosts body. Each of the seven worms has different areas that they will attack.

As the life cycle continues, the immature form will develop a small sac that is filled with fluid which surrounds it and nourishes it. When this sac, also called a bladder, is ingested by the definitive host either by direct contact with the eggs or the feces, the head segment of the tapeworm is released and attaches itself by their muscular groves.

Once in the definitive hosts intestinal wall, it segments, and grows. If left untreated, it can become incredibly large.

Symptoms:

Tapeworms in pet's symptoms are not as severe as other type of worm infections, but your dog or cat will still develop several mild infections. The largest concern with this type of worm is its ability to drain out huge amounts of nutrients from your pet's body to themselves.

Your dog or cat may experience upset stomachs, poor hair or skin coats, and a possible loss of hair as well as very red skin on their anus as well as their feet. They may also show signs of abdominal discomfort. However, the telling sign of this worm infection will be either a complete loss of an appetite, or the complete opposite, an excessive appetite; it will all depend on how bad your pet is infected.

But there is one more symptom that you can watch for. Human nature for most pet owners is to help off on treating your pet for several types of diseases and conditions. But once an owner sees a quarter inch size white worm moving in their stool, it is not when, but how fast you can get into your veterinarian. That one symptom is usually enough.

Treatment:

Treatment for tapeworms is very easy and usually very effective. However, it will be important to remember that as effective as treatment is, if preventive measures are not taken to eliminate the problem, your pet could become infected again within a couple of weeks and the process starts all over again.

The most common form of treatment is by a single injection or oral dosage of tapeworm medication called Praziquantel. There are two different types, one formulated for cats and one for dogs. There have been recent studies conducted at Ohio State University School of Veterinary Medicine that has shown that the oral form is actually more effective than the inject able form.

There are other forms of treatment, but most of them have to be given over a period of two weeks. This particular treatment will kill all tapeworm segments 100 percent in your pet within 48 hours.

Prevention and Protection:

While there are several ways your pet can become infected, by far and away the most common infection will be by fleas. Eliminating fleas from your dog or cats environment is critical to preventing it. Completely cleaning and disinfecting their bedding as well as protecting your pet from fleas will stop in from reoccurring.

The other preventive measure that you will need to take with your pet is building back their nutritional health. These parasites can live and thrive for over a year in your pet, and the entire time they are taking nutrients out of their body.

Multi-Vitamin supplements either in liquid or liquid capsule forms are the most effective, as you will have to build back all forms of nutrients. However, Vitamin B12 will be especially important to protect your pet from anemia, as B-12 deficiency anemia can cause serious health issues including the death of your pet.

B-12 deficiency anemia is usually starts in the intestines, which is exactly where this parasite has lived, thrived, and sucked the nutrients from.

Summary:

Tapeworms in pets can be an alarming and frightening event and it can deplete your pet of the nourishment they would normally get from food and supplements very quickly. Watching for the symptoms and reacting quickly will help to prevent future attacks from this enormous parasite.

I am an avid lover of pets and my wife and I have had several pets throughout our years. We are especially fond of dogs, and we have a 12 year old Dalmatian (our 3rd) and a "mutt" that we rescued when someone threw him away to die in a vacant field. He found us, nearly starved to death, and weighed about 2 pounds. After severe bouts of mange and severe dehydration, and over 1,000.00 in veterinarian bills, we saved the little guys life, and he is one of the best, if not the best, dogs we have ever had and today is a muscular, fit, and firm 70 pound best friend. After finishing my MBA, which at middle age was not easy, I decided to keep the research work ethics that I acquired, and devote about two hours each night in understanding the health benefits of supplementation for both humans and pets and how they might strengthen our, as well as our pets, immune system in a pre-emptive approach to health rather than a reactionary approach. Both of my daughters are avid cat lovers, and asked me to help them with health concerns and challenges with their cats. I am not a veterinarian nor claim to be, just a lover of pets that loves to research and pass on some knowledge that might be helpful, or at least stimulating to the thought process. Several of the articles that I have written can be found on my website: Liquid Vitamins & Minerals for Humans & Pets: http://www.liquid-vitamins-minerals-humans-pets.com/.