What Do Fleas have in Common with Tapeworm?
My dog, Sam, has recently recovered from a particularly nasty infestation of fleas. He’s had them before so I knew all about getting rid of fleas on dogs but I was also reminded by the vet of the importance of keeping up to date with Sam’s worming treatments whenever there are fleas about.
So what is the connection between fleas and tapeworm?
The Flea Tapeworm
There are a number of different types of tapeworm but the one we’re focusing on in this article is the flea tapeworm. As its name suggests, it is carried by fleas and can easily be seen in your dog’s faeces.
Now, I don’t know about you but I try not to spend too much time studying my dog’s poop. I don’t think that’s a very pleasant way to spend my time and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who thinks that. So what are the other signs that your dog could have tapeworm?
How to Tell If Your Dog Has A Tapeworm
Well, aside from the very obvious way of diagnosing the problem by looking at your dog’s excrement, there are other signs you can watch out for.
First of all there is the classic “scooting” along the floor that dogs do when they have an itchy anus. This looks awful and sends a shiver down my spine whenever I notice my own dog doing it. You see, the tapeworms that are carried by dog fleas cause irritation and itching around your dog’s anus. His solution to this discomfort is to drag his anus along the carpet, pulling himself forward using his front legs. It’s an awful spectacle and is a dead giveaway that he has worms.
Has your dog eaten offal recently? The Hydatid tapeworm can be picked up by dogs that eat offal from kangaroo, sheep or other native or feral mammals. This is a risk particularly if your dog is allowed to wander around farmland, hills or bushland where he might pick up that kind of a snack.
So, my advice, as a matter of routine would be to make sure that you keep your dog’s flea treatment and worming treatment up to date. Remember that prevention is always better than cure.
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