11/19/2022 0 Comments Tape worm virus![]() ![]() In puppies, heavy tapeworm infestation can be more serious. "Occasionally dogs will drag their bottoms on the ground, a behavior known as scooting, in order to calm irritation associated with the proglottids." As the flea is digested in the dog’s intestine, the tapeworm egg is released, it hatches, and then anchors itself to the intestinal lining, therefore completing the life cycle. Once inside the larval flea, the tapeworm egg continues to develop as the flea matures into an adult flea.ĭuring grooming, or in response to a flea bite, a dog inadvertently ingests the tapeworm infected flea. When the tapeworm eggs are released into the environment, they must be ingested by flea larvae, an immature stage of the flea. Tapeworms must first pass through an intermediate host (a flea) before they can infect a dog. Unlike other intestinal parasites, dogs cannot become infected by eating fertilized tapeworm eggs. A proglottid may contain as many as 20 tapeworm eggs. As the proglottid dries, it becomes a golden color and eventually breaks open, releasing the fertilized eggs into the environment. Occasionally they can be seen moving on the hairs around the anus, or more commonly, on the surface of freshly passed feces. The proglottids are about 1/2” (12 mm) long and about 1/8” (3 mm) wide and look like grains of rice or cucumber seeds. As the adult matures, individual segments, called proglottids, are passed in the feces of an infected dog. The adult worms may reach up to 11 inches (30 cm) in length. The tapeworm uses its hook-like mouthparts to attach to the wall of the small intestine. There are several types of tapeworms, but the most common tapeworm species observed in dogs is Dipylidium caninum. Tapeworms belong to the cestode family of intestinal worms. Tapeworms are flat, segmented intestinal parasites of the cat and dog. ![]()
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