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Category: Canine
Cestodes including Dipylidium caninum (most common) and various Taenia species
Tapeworms
AffectedAnimals:
Dogs and cats.
Overview:
A common intestinal parasite, tapeworms do not cause harm to the dogs they infect, although minor irritation to the anal area may occur. There are two primary ways that dogs can become infected with tapeworms. Dogs can swallow a flea accidentally when they are chewing or licking themselves. If the swallowed adult flea contains infective tapeworm larvae, then the dog can become infected with the most common species of tapeworm, Dipylidium caninum. Less commonly, dogs can become infected when they eat a rabbit or rodent, which can harbor different species of the Taenia tapeworm.
The adult tapeworm is made up of many small segments called proglottids, each about the size of a grain of white rice. Usually, single proglottid segments -- which contain tapeworm eggs -- break off the tail end of the tapeworm, and are passed into the stool. These segments sometimes will remain visible on the dog's rear after it has had a bowel movement. They may also crawl out of the anus when the dog is very relaxed or sleeping.
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