Tapeworms.....YUK!!!

[Burnsway]

No my dogs do not have them but this is my yuk research of the month....LOL! Because I don't know much in the medical area of dogs I always try to spend spare time reading up on things. Reading deeper then the what it is, where it came from and how to treat it....LOL! So for anyone who knows I have a few questions.

1)As I already knew a Tapeworm is contracted through a host such as a flea, and that is eaten from the dog which makes him the host. Right? Ok I know the rice looking segments are the shedded eggs that also must be in a host first for your dog to get a tapeworm. My question is, if a dog has a Tapeworm and eats another infected host can he have 2 or more adult attached tapeworms on the inside living?

2) I have seen over the counter meds being sold for Tapeworms without prescription but they always say do not use if the dog has a Tapeworm Infection and see the vet first. Ok what is the infection part, if it isn't actually the Tapeworm. And if you have to see the vet first then why the world do they even sell the stuff....

3) I have read a Tapeworm can live in your dogs for years on years and not cause a lot of damage but they will just eat more and more and sooner or later it will call a toll on your dog. The description of treatment made me think the worm dissolves by the medicine, but could larger ones not dissolve and be thrown up or pooped out whole and possible choke a dog or cause damage? Again if this is a danger why can it be sold without a prescription.....

4) I planned on rice or noodles for dinner tonight, what can I cook instead.......:o

[LavenderRott]

) I planned on rice or noodles for dinner tonight, what can I cook instead.......

I don't have any answers for the first 3 questions, but I think you might want to consider some mashed potatoes for dinner.

[chivas]

I cant really help ya on those questions, but your vet (as long as you are a current patient) should just dispense tapeworm meds to you w/o being seen. When I worked at a vet (8 yrs ago) we used Cestex.

[MARYDVM]

Yes a dog can have multiple tapeworms, and no they don't dissolve after being killed by the wormer. I once saw a coonhound pass what looked like a loosely wrapped bunch of twine - either a bunch of tapeworms entangled, or one r e a l l y long worm all knotted up. I wasn't curious enough to look closer.

[Burnsway]

MARYDVM,

That was a visual I "did not" need........ You reminded me why I did not become a vet.....:D

[Leahjean]

Mary,I have seen that too,it was many,I stepped on them and had one pull the dog away,what a mess,but he sure was healthier after this "clinical procedure":) I was pretty young (in my early teens and it was the only way I knew to do this!!!
I know another bad visual,just go out to eat and have spaghetti,OOOOPs,I mean broccoli or something light?????:D

[Donnerberg]

Below I've included the info insert that comes with a bottle of Droncit used to treat tapeworm. Not too many ever get to see the information provided on the bottle so I thought it might be interesting to see.

My grocery store butcher informed me that my dogs could get tapeworms from the raw meat and femur bones I buy. Does anyone know if this is true? If it is true, I wonder what type are contained in raw meat. I suspected it was an old wives tale since I've never heard anyone ever tell me their dogs got tapeworm on raw diets.

Here's the insert on the bottle of Droncit:

Tapeworm Information:

Droncit
(praziquantel)
Canine Cestocide Tablets

Each tablet contains 34 mg. praziquantel.

Description: Droncit Canine Cestocide Tablets are sized for easy oral administration to either adult dogs or puppies. The tablets may be crumbled and mixed with the feed.

Indications: Droncit Canine Cestocide Tablets are indicated for the removal of the following canine cestodes: Dipylidium caninum, Taenia pisiformis, Echinococcus granulosus and for the removal and control of Echinococcus multilocularis.

Action: Droncit is absorbed, metabolized in the liver and excreted in the bile. Upon entering the digestive tract from the bile, cestocidal activity is exhibited. Following exposure to praziquantel, the tapeworm loses its ability to resist digestion by the mammalian host. Because of this, whole tapeworms, including the scolex, are very rarely passed after administration of praziquantel. In many instances only disintegrated and partially digested pieces of tapeworms will be seen in the stool. The majority of tapeworms are digested and are not found in the feces.

Use Directions: Droncit may be administered directly per os or crumbled and mixed with the feed. The recommended dosage of praziquantel varies according to body weight. Smaller animals require a relatively larger dosage because of their higher metabolic rate. The optimum dose for each individual animal will be achieved by utilizing the following dosage schedule.

Dogs and puppies*
5 lbs. and under ½ tablet
6-10 lbs. 1 tablet
11-15 lbs. 1 ½ tablet
16-30 lbs. 2 tablets
31-45 lbs. 3 tablets
46-60 lbs. 4 tablets
Over 60 lbs. 5 tablets maximum

*Not intended for use in puppies less than 4 weeks of age.

Fasting: The recommended dosage of praziquantel is not affected by the presence or absence of food in the gastrointestinal tract, therefore, fasting is neither necessary nor recommended.

Retreatment: For those animals living where reinfections are likely to occur, clients should be instructed in the steps to optimize prevention, otherwise, retreatment may be necessary. This is true in cases of Dipylidium caninum where reinfection is almost certain to occur if fleas are not removed from the animal and its environment. In addition, for control of Echinococcus multilocularis, a program of regular treatment every 21 to 26 days may be indicated.

Echinococcus Multilocularis: Echinococcus multilocularis is a tapeworm species ordinarily considered to be found in wild canids, including foxes, coyotes and wolves. The parasite has also been identified in domestic dogs and cats and potentially is a serious public health concern by involving humans as accidental intermediate hosts.
The adult tapeworm is small (1-4 mm) and resides in the intestinal tract of the definitive host (wild or domestic canids). Eggs from the adult tapeworm are shed in the feces of the infected canid. Rodents such as mice and voles serve as the intermediate host for E. multilocularis. Eggs ingested by rodents develop in the liver, lungs and other organs to form multilocular cysts. The life cycle is completed after a canid consumes a rodent infected with cysts. After ingestion of an infected rodent, larvae contained within the cyst develop into adult tapeworms in the intestinal tract of the canid. Eggs may begin to be passed in the feces of the canid approximately 28 days later.
This parasite poses a serious public health problem because of the possibility for human involvement in the life cycle. If eggs shed by an infected canid are accidentally ingested, a highly pathogenic condition (Alveolar Hydatid Disease) results from development of the cyst stage in humans.
The original geographic distribution of E. multilocularis was primarily confined to northern areas of North America. Current evidence indicates migration of the parasite well into the continental United States.
Domestic dogs living in E. Multilocularis endemic areas that roam freely with the opportunity to catch wild rodents are at risk for infection. Pet owners should be advised on how to minimize this risk. Proper restraint of roaming dogs should be encouraged, along with regular treatment with Droncit tablets, following the established dosage schedule and the precautions indicated below.
Additional information of the life cycle and epidemiology of this parasite is available in veterinary parasitology texts.

Diagnosis: Diagnosis of E. multilocularis in canids is difficult. The adult tapeworm produces no clinical signs of infection. Tapeworm segments (proglottids) are usually not observed in the feces.
E. multilocularis eggs, observed using microscopic fecal examination procedures, are similar in appearance to the common taenid species of canids such as Taenia pisiformis.
Assistance in the diagnosis of E. multilocularis may be available from a state veterinary diagnostic laboratory. Additional information regarding areas where E. multilocularis is suspected or has been confirmed may be obtained from area veterinary schools or the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, GA.

Treatment: Dogs infected with E. multilocularis should be treated to prevent exposure of humans to infective eggs and to reduce perpetuation of the parasite’s life cycle.
The dosage of Droncit tablets for removal of E. multilocularis is the same as that indicated for the removal of the other tapeworm species listed on the label. Laboratory efficacy studies have demonstrated the recommended dosage is 100% efficacious for removal of this tapeworm.
Under condition of continual exposure to wild rodents, retreatment of the dog at 21 – 26 day intervals is recommended to prevent the shedding of infectious eggs.

Precautions: Strict hygienic precautions should be taken when handling dogs or feces suspected of harboring E. multilocularis. Infected dogs treated for the first time with Droncit tablets and dogs treated at intervals greater than 28 days may shed eggs in the feces after treatment. The animal should be held in the clinic during this interval and all feces should be incinerated or autoclaved. If these procedures are not possible, the eggs can be destroyed by soaking the feces in a dodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution of 3.75% or greater. All areas where the animal was maintained or in contact with should be thoroughly cleaned with sodium hypochlorite and allowed to dry completely before reuse.

Overdosage: The safety index has been derived from controlled safety evaluations, clinical trials and prior approved use in foreign countries. Dosages of 5 times the labeled rate at 14 day intervals to dogs as young as 4 weeks did not produce clinical signs of toxicity. No significant clinical chemistry, hematological, cholinesterase, or histopathological changes occurred. Symptoms of gross overdosage include vomition, salivation, diarrhea and depression.

Contraindications: There are no known contraindications to the use of praziquantel in dogs.

Pregnancy: Droncit has been tested in breeding and pregnant dogs. No adverse effects were noted.

Adverse Reactions: Seven instances (3.2%) of either vomiting, anorexia, lethargy or diarrhea were reported during the field trials in which 218 dogs were administered Droncit. The investigators rated these as non-significant.

Warning: Keep out of the reach of children. Not for human use.

[Burnsway]

Ok I could do without Leahjean's vision too.... :o

So sometimes the worm or worms need help out if they are bigger, or I assume sometimes a small dog may have problems. I guess the worm would not have detached itself if it wasn't dead, and no danger in pulling it out if it got stuck or the dog needed help...... Like when they are running from a dangling hair.....:D

So what do they mean by tapeworm infection if they are not talking about the worm itself?

I only had one dog get tapeworm and that was My female Pom mix when she was about 5 and my Vet did what chivas was talking about. Didn't even see her in the office, just handed me a pill. And I didn't even see anything come out in her stool. I guess the medicines must be pretty safe if they sell it in public stores and vets will treat sometimes not even seeing the dog.

[Anne]

Why not just routinely worm your dogs for tapeworm.

I use Sentinel Spectrum and never have any problems with h/worm worms, fleas or tape worms.

Chances are if your dog has fleas it also has tapeworm.
Prevention is better than cure they say!!

[cschimizzi]

Dogs can pick up parasites from raw meat. Not tapeworms but other parasites. I know that pinworms is one of them. If your dog is on a monthy or daily heartworm medication it takes care of other parasites as well except for tape worms. My dogs get the Pro Heart injection so along with it the vet gives a liquid wormer to prevent any other parasites. Diesel my 4 month old male had some many different parasites when I got him that he had to be worm every week for 4 weeks. Usually tapeworm is a one time treatment and it takes care of it. Well Diesel has been wormed for tapeworms 3 times and still had them. (NO FLEAS) He was covered in fleas when I got him from that horrible byb. The vet actually had to use a swine wormer on him and then he had to be watched closely for a few days. He came though it and now is free and clear of all parasites.

[Burnsway]

Anne, I wasn't asking for myself. Of course that is the route I take, but I was just educating myself more on this particular worm. I always look for things to research.

I have no life.....:o Who knows one day I may be playing Missing Link Trivia and the question Will be "What is the Tapeworms favorite meal"......:D May win me a million!!!.... :D

Did you know the Cockroaches favorite meal is the glue on the back of a stamp...... Not sure who asked a cockroach to find that out......

[Anne]

Sorry Burnsway. I was getting carried away with all the posts here.

I had completely forgotten you were doing research on tape worms and was being a little over enthusiastic about the subject.

[Burnsway]

Originally posted by Anne
Sorry Burnsway. I was getting carried away with all the posts here.

I had completely forgotten you were doing research on tape worms and was being a little over enthusiastic about the subject.

HA!HA! Trust me I have no intentions of walking behind any of my dogs pulling out an entwined rope of foot long tapeworms. I have every confidence that if I had to, I could, but I think I prefer to leave that job to a vet........

[MARYDVM]

Actually dogs can get a species of tapeworm from eating raw meat. It is less common than the flea related one, but still out there. Usually in rabbits and rodents. I checked and found that there are 4 different human tapeworms, acquired by eating either raw beef, raw pork, raw fish (darn, I love sushi) and even anything contaminated with soil that has the larvae (that one is in S. America). Lots of nasty creepy crawlies out there.

[Judi W]

It's some of that other stuff that really makes me cringe when I hear people talk about giving their dogs raw salmon - those flukes are really a big deal. Mother nature is not always as benevolent as it is promoted.