Tapeworm Treatments

The first action of treatment is to control the intermediate hosts – namely, the fleas. If your house and pet are flea-free then the chances of your pet getting tapeworm is diminished drastically. However there are conventional and natural treatments that can help to rid already existing tapeworm infestations and help to prevent them.

Conventional Treatments

If your pet has tapeworms you veterinarian may prescribe a medication such as Praziquantel. Drugs such as these work by dissolving the tapeworm inside your pet’s intestine an unlike after treating roundworms, you generally won’t see dead tapeworms being expelled in your pet’s stool.

One treatment is effective enough to kill off infestation; however, sometimes a second dose is advised if the chances or immediate re-infection are high. Some vets advise that you manage the flea problem before coming back for a second dose, while others advise only coming back if your pet shows signs of re-infection. Keep in mind that these drugs do sometimes have side-effects such as nausea and because they are chemical based, frequent use can negatively affect your pet’s immune system.

Natural Remedies  Read more... (575 words, 2 images, estimated 2:18 mins reading time)

What is a Tapeworm?

A tapeworm is a flat segmented worm that attaches itself to the inside of its host’s intestine. They become a matter of great concern when that host is your beloved pet! Tapeworms consist of a head, with suckers, a neck and a body of multiple segments. The tapeworm’s ability to reproduce as a single organism makes it especially formidable as new segments are continually being developed in the neck.

These segments are cast off when they become mature and each mature segment contains a number of packets of eggs. Mature segments are then passed into the stool and they can often be spotted near the anus or on the fur of infected dogs and cats. Recently passed segments may move around, and when they have dried, they tend to look like dried grains of rice.

Tapeworm is a common intestinal parasite and while the thought of your pet infested with these parasites is a ghastly one, the good news is that in comparison to other intestinal worms, tapeworms cause the least amount of health concerns for your pet.  Read more... (646 words, 2 images, estimated 2:35 mins reading time)