I think Mina has tapeworm.

[Upendi&Mina]

I mentioned in another post that recently we've been battling fleas here (Scrappy came home infested and passed them on to the other dogs despite a prompt bath :| ) and while I'm starting to get the fleas under control they've brought another problem.

I like to monitor the girls poops so I can notice any changes. Well to my surprise when Mina pooped today there were tiny little tape worm segments in it. I'm positive they are, they're not roundworms (I know what they look like) and from what I understand the only other type visible in poop without a microscope is tapeworm. Upon further investigation, they look exactly what small tape worm segments look like.

This sucks. I have NEVER had a dog with tapeworm before, roundworms sure, but not this. I know I might be overreacting, but to me this is a major problem. Especially since they can be passed to not only the other dogs (if they don't already have it), but the people here aswell. And I'm sure some of it stems from the fact that I never wanted Scrappy in the first place and because of the fleas he BROUGHT here my dog now has tapeworm. :roll:

I feel guilty in a way too, because I feel like I should've noticed it earlier? Mina has been thinning out a bit lately, but I attributed it to the normal loss of puppy fat. Other than that and her poop today there weren't any signs I could think of. Her eyes are bright, she's not lacking in energy (if anything she's been more active), she's not eating any more or less. I guess her coat is a bit dry, but I attributed that to the fleas and getting lots of baths lately. Just ugh.

I'll be going to the vet Monday with poop samples from both girls. Does anyone have experience with tapeworm?

 

[bubbatd]

Years ago when we had fleas ! Hated them !

 

[Upendi&Mina]

Are they fairly easy to get rid of with the proper wormer? Or is reinfestation fairly common after a worming? If you don't know I understand. I'm just trying to learn a bit more about it as I have absolutely zero experience with tapeworm.

 

[dobesgalore]

Just deworm like any other worms. You can go to the vet to be 100% sure, or you can also get tape worm tabs over the counter at pet stores, Tractor supply etc.. Just make sure the active ingrediant is praziquental. I have seen some cheaper ones that use some other ingrediant (example-Happy Jack, I think it was.) Those probably won't have much effect.

 

[Romy]

When we had The Great Flea War a year and a half ago, Strider got them. That's when we started worming them with diatomacious earth. After two days of dosing, he crapped out a ton of tape segments and roundworms. I just keep them on it every day now (it's inert and has healthy minerals too) to prevent any worm re infestations.

 

[elegy]

you might be able to get proper dewormer just by calling your vet and saying that you're seeing tapeworm segments, if you're sure that's what they are. tapes don't usually show up in a standard fecal flotation test.

dogs get tapeworms by ingesting fleas (and in a couple other ways like eating rodents, but fleas are the most common in housedogs), so you need to get the flea problem under control, treat that tapes, and that should be it. generally not a big deal.

 

[Lizmo]

you might be able to get proper dewormer just by calling your vet and saying that you're seeing tapeworm segments, if you're sure that's what they are. tapes don't usually show up in a standard fecal flotation test.

Yup, I agree. I got some for last foster pup, called Strogid, from a breeder who got it from her vet for her last litter but didn't use it all.

 

[smkie]

I haven't seen a trace of worms in anyone since we started heartworm preventative. Is your dog taking this?

 

[Upendi&Mina]

When we had The Great Flea War a year and a half ago, Strider got them. That's when we started worming them with diatomacious earth. After two days of dosing, he crapped out a ton of tape segments and roundworms. I just keep them on it every day now (it's inert and has healthy minerals too) to prevent any worm re infestations.

May I ask where you buy de?

Elegy- I'm going to ask about comfortis when I talk to my vet for the wormer. I've heard from several people that it works great, so we'll give it a try. We've tried baths, daily brushing with the flea comb, and even front line (Mina had a reaction to it so we had to bathe her immediately after). Did I mention I HATE fleas?

 

[Upendi&Mina]

I haven't seen a trace of worms in anyone since we started heartworm preventative. Is your dog taking this?

They're on Interceptor as far as heartworm preventative goes. It takes care of other types of worm, but not tape.

 

[Gena]

Tapes are nothing to feel "ashamed" over, which is the vibe I feel from your posts. It happens. Our vet will give tape dewormer if we call and ask for it. They aren't really any worse than rounds, whips or hooks in terms of "stigma." People can get some of those worms too, though I forget which. I'd probably dose everyone in the house because if one has them, from eating infected fleas, they all probably do. To me, it is kind of like head lice in school. Anyone can get it, only the dirty people keep it. I'm sure you're not "dirty people." LOL!

 

[smkie]

My mom has told me the story of a neighbor lady many times. She had one that was 3 ft long.


ahhh i didn't tknow that. i haven't seen a trace of tapes in so many years.. I have certainly seen them over the years. I have seen a newborn pup vomit so many round worms you can't wrap your mind around how they ever fit inside. hooks almost took my first lab puppy. HE picked up some unusual kind in Arizona that the meds weren't working on. I hate worms. Once saw a demo at a retriever dinner by a vet who opened up a dog's heart and let us see the heartworms. SEriously..at a retriever dinner.:rofl1: IT didn't bother me however and i found it fascinating.

Tapes should be easy as pie to get rid of. Could happen to any animal.

ooops double post..me bad. sorry

 

[corsomom]

My dogs use to get tapeworm when they caught and ate a rabbit. It was no big deal, Just told the vet what it looked like(rice) and picked up the dewormer.

 

[bubbatd]

Again , this was before flea meds . I had a cat that had a very high fever ( yes I vetted ) . She was an inside/outside cat with no litter box . I took her out to poop on a very cold winter night . Lord , her fever killed a tape worm I didn't know she had . Out came a 12# dead tape worm !! Luckily she lived another 14 years !

 

[Upendi&Mina]

Tapes are nothing to feel "ashamed" over, which is the vibe I feel from your posts. It happens. Our vet will give tape dewormer if we call and ask for it. They aren't really any worse than rounds, whips or hooks in terms of "stigma." People can get some of those worms too, though I forget which. I'd probably dose everyone in the house because if one has them, from eating infected fleas, they all probably do. To me, it is kind of like head lice in school. Anyone can get it, only the dirty people keep it. I'm sure you're not "dirty people." LOL!

I'm not ashamed. Although admittedly I was a bit more upset than need be. That's what I get for not sleeping. I think watching an episode of House with a nasty tapeworm kind of freaked me out to.

Smkie, the lady had the tapeworm?

 

[dobesgalore]

When we had The Great Flea War a year and a half ago, Strider got them. That's when we started worming them with diatomacious earth. After two days of dosing, he crapped out a ton of tape segments and roundworms. I just keep them on it every day now (it's inert and has healthy minerals too) to prevent any worm re infestations.

Where do you get the diatomacious earth? I have never seen any around here, but then again I havn't looked either.

 

[showluver]

I got mine from revivalanimals.com

 

[Upendi&Mina]

Thank you! I spent all night last night looking for it and the prices seem pretty reasonable. If I read what the site says correctly it can also be used as a flea deterrent if sprinkled on the dog/in the carpets etc?

 

[Upendi&Mina]

Just one more question about the DE. Is it harmful if it's inhaled?

 

[JessLough]

i wouldn't worry about you getting the tape worm. The only way you can get it, is if you ingest a segment accidentally. It is usually not of concern to people except if they have young children who are crawling around, as they are more apt to ingest some.