What causes tapeworms in puppies?

Question

Do dogs get tapeworms from eating their fleas?

I have gotten a treatment from my local vet for my puppies tapeworms. I also attempted to disinfect my home in case there may be any eggs laying around. I have also had my puppy groomed and his butt shaved clean, as he is a long haired dog. I'm just worried that there may be a reinfestation even though he's been treated. Is this likely to happen?

Answer 1

It depends on the tapeworm. Dipylidium caninum has an intermediate step in lice and fleas. If a dog eats fleas containing this parasite, they can get the adult tapeworm in their system. Diphyllobothrium latum is picked up from eating raw/undercooked fish that have plerocercoids (immature step in the life cycle) in the muscle.
Mesocestoides species are found in snales and small mammals in the immature stage, so if a dog eats an infected animal they can get it.
Certain Taenids come from food animals. They are a good reason not to feed your dogs raw lamb (or beef, or pork really).
Echinococcus granulosus is an intersting one. Dogs are the normal host with sheep being the intermediate (dogs get it from eating infected sheep muscle) but humans can also get it. In humans it can cause some major issues. The intermediate stage can migrate to the brain and cause huge lesions.
That's the list I have from parasitology. It's probably not exhaustive, but I hope it helps!

Answer 2

The eggs of tapeworms live in fleas, and hatch out in an animal's gut when the flea is ingested through grooming.

If your house has been cleaned and your puppy has been wormed using proper veterinary stuff then you should be free of tapeworms. You do need to keep your puppy regularly wormed to prevent reinfestation - every 2 weeks until the pup is 3 months old, then monthly until 6 months of age and every 3 months from then on.

You also need to regularly flea treat your puppy. Fleas are not the only thing that transmit tapes, animals can also get them from being exposed to the faeces of infected animals, or by eating carrion that is infected with tapes.

Chalice

Answer 3

Tapeworms are flat worms that are segmented. They consist of a head, neck, and then a number of segments. The head usually has suckers or muscular grooves that enable the tapeworm to attach itself to the animal's intestine.
Each tapeworm segment has its own reproductive organs. New segments are continually formed in the neck region of the worm while those at the end of the tapeworm are cast off as they mature. These mature segments contain large numbers of eggs which are often grouped into packets. The segments may often be seen near the anus of the dog or cat. These segments may move if recently passed or, if dried, they look like grains of uncooked rice or cucumber seeds. Tapeworm infections are usually diagnosed by finding these segments on the animal.

Tapeworms of dogs and cats all have life cycles that include an intermediate host. These hosts include fleas, fish, and domestic animals such as sheep and pigs. All of the adult forms of these tapeworms live in the cat's or dog's digestive system. It is interesting that tapeworms have no digestive systems themselves, but absorb nutrients through their skin.

Answer 4

If you'll get a stool pattern with a computer virus or 2 in it, placed it in a ziplock baggie and placed it for your fridge till you'll take your puppy again to the vet. Your vet NEEDS a pattern of the computer virus and the stool so he could make a right analysis of what variety of computer virus it honestly is. If your puppy had worms and the healthcare professional simply gave him a worming therapy, then probably your puppy is solely dropping the worms. You can inform if that is the case if the worms he's dropping are relocating or no longer. If they are not relocating, then he is dropping worms from the therapy. If they're relocating, then they are special worms than those he used to be dealt with for. Six weeks is terrible younger for a dog to be separated from its mom. During the ones 2 weeks - among six and 8 weeks of age - dogs gain knowledge of main social abilities - like chew inhibition, for illustration. You're going to need to be further vigilant to train your dog to not bite on the whole thing in sight! Good success!

Answer 5

Yes, fleas are the carriers of tapeworms. Your dog gets them by eating the fleas.

Answer 6

fleas carry tapeworms. The dog or cat ingests fleas, eggs and larvae while grooming, the worms have a field day.

Answer 7

fleas causes tapeworm, does the puppies poo look like it has pieces of rice in it, if it does, it has a tapeworm. you can go to a pet supply place and buy the medicine over the counter, instead of taking it to the vet, the packs of medicine goes according to the puppies weight. they also have it in puppy formula too. tapeworms are caused by flea bites.
good luck

Answer 8

of course I don't know if it is true...and I would like to find the REAL answer to the problem of aquiring them as well...but I was told growing up that your pup can get them from eating food off the ground (may be an old wives tail) but I'd like it if anyone could say if their is any truth to it?