Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook.pdf - Mr. Walnuts

60 •DOG OWNER’S HOME VETERINARY HANDBOOK
Fresh tapeworm segments are about
one-quarter inch (6 mm) long.
Tapeworms
Tapeworms live in the small intestines
and vary from less than an inch to
several feet in length. The head of the
worm fastens to the wall of the gut by
hooks and suckers. The body is composed
of segments that contain the
egg packets. To cure tapeworm infection,
the head must be destroyed. If it
is not, the worm will regenerate.
The body segments containing the
eggs are passed in the feces. Fresh,
moist segments are about one-quarter
inch (6 mm) long and are capable of
moving. Occasionally you may see
them crawling through the fur near
your dog’s anus. When dry, they
resemble kernels of rice. Some dogs
experience anal itching from the segments. Tapeworms will drain nutrition
from your dog but not to the extent that ascarids, hookworms, and whipworms
will.
The common tapeworm of dogs is Dipylidium caninum. Fleas and lice serve
as intermediate hosts when they ingest the eggs. A dog must bite or swallow
an infected flea or louse to acquire the parasite. A human could also acquire
D. caninum if they accidentally swallow an infected flea.
Several species of Taenia, another type of tapeworm, parasitize dogs. Taenia
are acquired by eating infected rodents, rabbits, and sheep. Diphyllobothrium
species are found encysted in the organs of fish. These tapeworms are found in
the northern United States and Canada.
Echinococcus tapeworms are uncommon in dogs. Intermediate hosts are
deer, elk, goats, sheep, cattle, swine, horses, and some rodents.
Treatment: Droncit, Cestex, Drontal Plus, Telmintic, and Vercom Paste
are highly effective against all the common dog tapeworms. Use them under
veterinary guidance.
Prevention: The common dog tapeworm can be controlled by eliminating
fleas and lice from the environment, as described in Disinfecting the Premises,
page 133. Dogs should be confined to prevent them from roaming and eating
dead animals. Avoid feeding your dog uncooked meat and raw game.
Public health considerations: Echinococcus granulosa and Echinococcus
multiocularis are significant public health problems. Dogs and humans can
acquire the infection from eating contaminated uncooked meat, and, in the
case of dogs, by feeding on the carcass of an infected animal. Humans can also