"Those Disgusting Tapeworms"

Nothing can compare to the disgust or repulsion pet owners experience when they find a slimy, white tapeworm segment stuck on their favorite easy chair or bed soon after the dog or cat gets up.  When we examine a pet we always peek under the tail to make sure nothing is sticking to the hairs around the anus.  This is the world of the tapeworms. Although they don't cause lots of damage in the pets, tapeworms sure are gross and disgusting to pet owners. Tapeworms are the worms we see!

The various species of tapeworms
You will notice in the images below that tapeworms use an "intermediate host" to accomplish transmission from one dog or cat to another.  There are three common species that affect dogs and cats: Dipylidium caninum which can infect dogs, cats and people uses the flea larva as an intermediate host; Taenia pisiformis which infects dogs uses the rabbit; Taenia taeniaeformis which infects cats uses the rat or mouse. To make a long story short, if you can keep your pet from eating fleas, rabbit, mouse or rat viscera it won't get a tapeworm. The intermediate host is required.

Life of the Tapeworm
In the images below the scolex or head end of the tapeworm is labeled. The scolex has a little sucker and or hooks which grasp onto the wall of the small intestine of the dog or cat. Behind the scolex are individual segments joined together to form the length of the worm, much like a beaded chain. These segments are called proglottids. Each individual proglottid is a separate reproductive unit. They each contain ovaries and ducts leading to a tiny pore on their surface. Any number of proglottids can break free from the scolex and pass with the feces. We often see them mixed with feces - they appear as little white, rice grains if individual or if chained together they are flat appearing like a shoe-string. These individual units are mobile and can move around on the ground or worse yet on furniture in the house.   As they move they squeeze out little packets of 6 to 12 eggs all nicely cemented together. Flea larva consume these eggs. The eggs are also laid on grass or vegetation and are consumed by rabbits, mice or rats. The egg hatches within the intermediate hosts and becomes an infective stage for dogs and cats.   When a dog or cat eats the flea or intestines of the rat, mouse or rabbit the immature tapeworm scolex attaches to the wall of the small intestine and begins growing its' own chain of proglottids. The lifecycle then can repeat anew as the proglottids break free and pass with the feces.  The images below will make the lifecycle easier to understand.

What are the signs of a Tapeworm infestation?
Most tapeworm infestations go totally unnoticed. We rarely ever know unless we find a segment on the couch or see them in the feces. In other cases, we can hear a "rumbly tummy syndrome" where the animal undergoes increased intestinal motility, cramping and sometimes gas. We can also see diarrhea streaked with mucous, but most of the time tapeworms don't cause problems that we are aware of.

How are Tapeworms diagnosed?
Unlike other intestinal parasites of the dog or cat, tapeworms don't lay eggs inside the pet.  For that reason, when veterinarians perform fecal floatations looking for parasite eggs, tapeworms are often overlooked. We usually have to see the segments stuck to the hairs around the anus, or in the feces or environment to diagnose tapeworms. That's why using a safe preventive which we recommend is the best course of prevention!

How are Tapeworms treated?
Most over-the-counter wormers won't affect a tapeworm.  In the "old days" it was rather difficult to rid a pet of tapeworms. Purgatives were used that caused violent contractions of the intestine in attempts to physically flush the worm free.  These were the wormers that caused severe diarrhea when administered; since they didn't get rid of the scolex they were very ineffective. The modern tapeworm medications work on a different principal.  They cause the tapeworm to lose their protective layer and they are simply digested.    We never see them pass; they just disappear.  Northwest Animal Hospital uses a medication called Droncit® to deworm dogs and cats. Given by injection, it is a very effective treatment. Other options exist depending on the species of tapeworm and host(dog/cat).

How do you control tapeworm infestations?
Sometimes it is difficult to keep tapeworms from reoccurring over and over again. Why?  Because it can be difficult to get rid of the fleas.  Newer medications such as Vectra are  effective in getting rid of flea infestations. This takes care of the Dipylidium species which uses the flea as an intermediate host. Where we have problems is with the cats that are hunters. They often get the Taenia species which use the mouse as an intermediate host. Watching for the telltle mouth part in your cats feces ir around the anus would indicate that they need an injection to kill the tapeworms.  Watchful monitoring is needed by the pet owner.

Can people get tapeworms?
Not generally.  On very rare occasions, children have been infected with Dipylidium species by swallowing a flea accidentally. It generally causes tremendous cramping and discomfort. Totally unrelated to dogs and cats tapeworms discussed above, are the tapeworms that people are getting from eating Sushi or raw fish. There are certain species of tapeworms that use the fish as an intermediate host. If food is cooked properly there is no worry.

Be Safe - Be Sure - Check Your Pet's Feces for Intestinal Worms Twice a Year! Use year round preventives in all dogs and monitor your cats feces for tapeworms