Tapeworm Symptoms in Cats and Dogs

Often your pet cat or dog will not exhibit any unusual symptoms when first infected with tapeworms. But, if the infestation goes unnoticed for a period of time, your pet may start showing some of the following tapeworm symptoms.

Your pet may:

• Start having a difficult time with urination, or may start urinating more frequently.
• Have a decreased appetite.
• Frequently lick and try to clean themselves.
• Develop a pot-belly or abdominal distention.

A severe tapeworm infestion my result in weight loss, even though your pet is still eating as much, if not more food.

Occasionally, a tapeworm will release its attachment in the intestines and move into the stomach. This causes irritation to the stomach, and will cause your pet dog or cat to vomit.

Again, treatment is very simple and effective. Call your veterinarian first. Then, if recommended by your Vet, you can simply order Tape Worm Tabs for your pet Cat and Tradewinds Tape Worm Tablets for your pet Dogs and Puppies.

The Tapeworm and Your Pet Dogs and Cats

The most common tapeworm that dogs and cats can get is the Dipylidium caninum (DIE-pih-LID-ee-um K-nine-um).

Your pets get the tapeworms through the ingestion of fleas, usually while grooming themselves. Once they swallow a flea that is infected with a tapeworm larvae, the larval tapeworm is free to develop into an adult tapeworm.

One sign that your pet dog is infected with tapeworms is when you see your pet do the scooter dance across your floor. When your pet is dragging its anus across your carpet, it is because the tapeworm segments are irritating the skin in this area.

The adult tapeworm is made up of many small segments, called proglottids (pro-GLOT-ids), each about the size of a grain of rice; adult tapeworms may measure 4-28 inches in length. As the tapeworm matures inside the intestines, these segments (proglottids) break off and pass into the stool.

Sometimes, the segments that do break off get caught in the animal's fur, causing irritation.

Because the Dipylidium tapeworm eggs are rarely released into the feces, the tapeworm is not usually detected by routine fecal exams performed by your veterinarian. So, it is important that you watch for any signs of tapeworm infection.

Tapeworm infection is usually diagnosed when the moving segments are seen crawling around the anus or in a bowel movement. Occasionally, a portion of the tapeworm will be passed when your dog vomits. If this happens, a worm several inches in length may be seen.

If you suspect that your pet dog or cat may have tapeworms, call your veterinarian.

Treatment for both animals and humans is simple and very effective.

To treat animals, a drug called praziquantel is given, either orally or by injection (pets only). The tapeworm medicine causes the tapeworm to dissolve within the intestines. Since the worm is usually digested before it passes, it may not be visible in your pet's stool. The drugs are generally well-tolerated.

Praziquantel can now be purchased without a prescription. Click to order Tradewinds Tape Worm Tablets for your Cat and your Dogs and Puppies.

It's a Tapeworm!

Yes, the tumor really was a tapeworm.

In case you missed the post, read more about the tumor that was actually a tapeworm, Doctors Find Worm In Woman's Brain?.

A lesson to all of us - Wash your hands before you handle food!!