| Tapeworm with rice-like segments |
Gross...for sure! The white eggs also wiggle around the dog's anus and get onto your carpets and floors.
Read more about the symptoms and how you can treat worms in your dog.
Most people cringe at the thought of canine tapeworms. The tapeworms hook themselves onto your dog’s intestinal wall and shed segments that carry tapeworm eggs. The eggs move through your dog’s intestines and come out when your dog poops.
How Tapeworms Get Passed on to Animals and People
If another animal or even a human is exposed to the eggs, they can get tapeworms too. Fleas also pass tapeworms to other animals or people. This happens when fleas ingest the eggs while biting an infected dog. When the fleas hop onto another animal, they deposit the tapeworm eggs with their bites. Keep your family and pets safe from tapeworm infestation by knowing what to look for.
What Do Tapeworm Eggs Look Like?
The eggs are the most noticeable signs of tapeworm infestation. If your dog has tapeworms, you will see the egg segments (proglottids) on your carpets and floors. They look like white rice and turn tan when exposed to the air. The eggs also appear around the dog’s anus and from there they wriggle into the fur. You’ll also see the egg segments in your dog’s poop as they move around in it. Sometimes, adult tapeworms detach themselves from the intestines and show up in your dog’s poop.
Anal Irritation Is a Sign of Tapeworms
Tapeworm eggs move out of your dog’s intestines and gather around his anus causing irritation and itching. If your dog starts licking his butt, check the area for moving tapeworm segments. Dogs also rub their butts across the floor trying to relieve irritation from tapeworms, depositing the egg segments on your floors. If any children play on the floor and touch the eggs, they can contract tapeworms.
The vicious cycle begins again when your dog ingests the live eggs by licking his anal area. Tapeworm infestation begins again, getting progressively more severe.
Stomach Upset from Tapeworms
Canine tapeworms do not display many adverse physical reactions in dogs unless severe infestation occurs. Adult tapeworms sometimes detach from the dog’s intestines and travel into the stomach. When tapeworms reach the stomach, vomiting occurs. The dog’s vomit will have live tapeworms that are up to 8 inches long.
Other Canine Tapeworm Signs
Here are some other symptoms of severe amounts of tapeworms infesting your dog:
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Weakness
- Anemia
- Increased heart
Treatment for Tapeworms in Dogs
Veterinarians offer several tapeworm treatments depending upon the severity of the tapeworms’ infestation. Injections or oral medications are available that dissolve the worms. You can also buy home worming medication to get rid of tapeworms in your dogs or cats.
Your veterinarian also offers advice on how to prevent tapeworms from coming back.
Sources:
College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University: An Overview of Canine Tapeworm Infections
Oklahoma State University: Parasites of Dogs and Cats
