Ugh!  Dog Tapeworms Can Grow Up to 2 Feet

Tapeworms are made up of tiny segments that look like grains of rice. Each of these segments may contain eggs. Generally, you know your dog has tapeworms because tapeworms trigger severe itching and discomfort around the anus and the segments can be seen clearly in the feces. Your dog will be rubbing its butt on the carpet or grass and may start loosing weight.

There are two types of tapeworms. One type is named Dipylidium Caninum, a cucumber-shaped organism, and can only affects dogs. The other type of tapeworm can affect humans and cause an illness called the Hydatid Disease.

How Do Dogs Get Tapeworms?

Dipylidium Caninum is transmitted by fleas and is the most common tapeworm that affects dogs. Luckily, humans do not get this form of tapeworm from dogs.

What happens is that flea larva ingest rounded tapeworm segments that are filled with eggs. Once the flea matures, it hops on your dog. Your dog can catch tapeworms by swallowing the fleas in which the tapeworm larvae have developed.

Blurb Alert! Never Worry About Your Dog's Bathroom Needs Again! No more "accidents"! Stuck in traffic, sleeping-in, raining outside? There are a number of reasons why your dog can't or won't go outside to go potty. Finally, relief for your doggie... and for you!

As the flea passes through your dog’s digestive system, the tapeworm egg attaches itself to the intestine, where it eventually hatches and matures. The mature segments that are filled with eggs pass out of the dog’s anus. The segments, while moist, can move around for a while. The eggs that are contained in the new segments are then eaten by fleas and begin their new cycle.

Tapeworms can grow to up to two feet in length inside a dog’s body. It is hard to treat this nasty parasite the head tends to separate form the body and remains stuck to the intestinal wall.

Symptoms of Tapeworms

When tapeworms or their segments leave your dog’s body, they are likely to attach themselves outside the anus. This causes a severe itch that forces your dog to constantly scratch in that area.  You might also notice your dog rubbing its butt in the grass, dirt or on your carpet in an attempt to relieve the itching. 

If infected with tapeworms, your dog tends to stop gaining weight and might even lose a few pounds because he is sharing his food with the tapeworms.

The stool will visibly reveal the presence of tapeworms in the form of tiny white grains that move around by forming a sort of “point” on one end.

Getting Rid of Tapeworms

You will need to see your vet to treat this the Dipylidium Caninum tapeworm. Deworming agents used for treatment are potent and must be administered with extreme care. Furthermore, you need to take steps to treat your house or dog run to get rid of fleas that carry tapeworm eggs.

"Ugh!  Dog Tapeworms Can Grow Up to 2 Feet," submitted by Carl Johnnsen