Tapeworm
The most common tapeworm in dogs is the Dipylidium caninum. The life cycle of the Dipylidium tapeworm involves the flea. So, if fleas are not present around your Doberman, neither is tapeworm. However, if fleas are present, tapeworm is certain.
Diagnosis of tapeworm is unique in that it is the responsibility of the dog owner. Tapeworm eggs rarely appear in the fesses, which is the veterinarian’s method of diagnosing other intestinal worms.
The adult tapeworm measures 4 to 28 inches in length and is made up of many small segments, called proglottids, each resembling a grain of rice in size and shape. The tapeworm attaches its self to the wall of the small intestine. As it grows and matures, the segments that make up its body break off and make their way to the anus.
These rice-grain-looking hard yellow segments often appear around the infected dog’s anus and on the surface of the fesses. Spotting these segments is the best way to diagnose tapeworm. Also, infected dogs sometime will vomit a whole adult worm, which can be full length.
The tapeworm in most non-severe cases is not problematic for a healthy adult Doberman. With older dogs and puppies, they can cause weight loss and poor growth.
The real problem for tapeworm infected dogs is the presence fleas. The fleas must be dealt with before a tapeworm infection can effectively be treated.
Life Cycle
In an effort to deal with the fleas on their own, dogs scratch, bit, and swallow the fleas. Once ingested, tapeworm larvae are released from the flea’s body, which attach to the dogs intestine.
Once mature, the tape worm begins producing eggs. These eggs are kept inside its body so when the segments are released, they take a number of eggs with them neatly packaged.
The egg bearing segments eventually work their way to the anus and fall to the ground, or in a home infested with fleas, the carpet or floor. Here is where they meet their flea host. The flea also drops its eggs to the floor.
Flea eggs hatch into caterpillar-like larvae which feed on anything they can find; including tapeworm segments. The tapeworm eggs hatch into larvae inside the flea larvae. As the flea larva grows and matures, it is unhindered by the tapeworm larvae.
The flea eventually matures and begins feeding on the dog. If the dog manages to swallow a flea, the cycle repeats.
Humans are also susceptible to tapeworms if they swallow a flea, although the instance is low. Treatment for a human or a dog starts with eradicating the fleas, then effective medication is available that will kill off the tapeworm parasite.
Continue to Whipworms....
