Tapeworm
The adult tapeworm lives in the small intestine of the dog or
cat. It is hooked onto the intestinal wall by a structure called a rostellum which
is sort of like a hat with hooks on it. The tapeworm also has six rows of teeth
to grab on with. Most people are confused about the size of a tapeworm because
they only see its segments which are small; the entire tapeworm is usually 6 inches
or more. Tapeworm
Facts
Dogs and cats can be infested with two types of tapeworms. Fleas carry
the most common type, and rodents carry the less common type. Tapeworm segments
are often visible on the surface of your pet’s stool. They usually appear
as short (1/2-3/4”), flat, white particles, that when first passed are mobile;
or they may be passed still connected in a long, flat string. Dry segments may
stick to your pet’s hair, and look similar to a grain of rice. Until recently,
the only effective control has required a prescription. However, this drug (Praziquantel)
is now available without a prescription, and is 100% effective in ridding your
pet of both types of tapeworms.
Everything
you ever wanted to know about tapeworms
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