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Tapeworms, scientific name Dipylidium caninum, are parasites that infest the small intestines of many animals, including dogs and humans. They can grow of to 20 inches in length, with a body that is flat, white and segmented.

They survive by attaching themselves to the intestinal lining and then feeding off the nutrients in the food the dog eats. As they mature the tail segments, containing tapeworm eggs, break off. If the dog has tapeworm you will clearly see these, which resemble grains of rice, in the faeces.A dog cannot become infected by eating the eggs directly, but only by swallowing a flea containing the eggs. The usually happens when a flea larvae eats the tapeworm eggs. Later the flea matures and lives on the dog.

When the dog bites at an itchy spot on his coat, he swallows the flea. The tapeworm eggs then hatch and head straight for the intestines where they attach themselves and start to feed. After a time, they mature and the tail segments begin to break off. These are then passed by the dog and the cycle begin anew.

Tapeworms are not particularly harmful. They absorb only a small percentage of the nutrients that your dog eats and cause only mild irritation. However, a severe infestation may cause your dog to lose weight, so it is always advisable to treat your dog if he has worms.

The most obvious sign is tapeworm segments in the dog’s faeces. Many people believe that a dog that drags his hindquarters along the ground has tapeworm, but this is usually untrue. The more likely explanation for this behavior is blacked anal sacs or a skin irritation.

Fortunately, tapeworms are very easy to eradicate, Just give your dog a vet prescribed or commercial de-wormer and the problems will be over in no time. Be advised though that some over-the-counter worm medications contain pesticides, so they can cause health problems if used too often.

If you take your dog to the vet, the treatment will normally be a pill or injection that dissolves the protective outer lining of the tapeworm. This allows the worm to be digested and passed from the body.

Most dogs will get tapeworm at some time or another, but there are some things you can do to reduce the chance of your dog being infected.

Start by giving your dog a veterinary de-wormer every 3 months. This protects your dog from a number of parasitic worms, including hookworms, roundworms, and of course, tapeworms.

It is also important to keep your dog free of fleas, as tapeworms cannot be passed without them. Simply give your dog a monthly flea preventative and keep the dog’s bedding and environment free of these pests.

If all of the above is not reason enough to treat your dog for tapeworm, bear in mind that, although it is extremely rare, certain tapeworms found in dogs can be passed to humans.

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