Fleas and tapeworm: a real connection

Humans, through consuming undercooked food or other means of exposure, may contract tapeworms. Namely, we may eat larvae of this parasite and transfer them in our organism this way. Then, in time, these larvae develop and become adult tapeworms which can be very long and quite dangerous for our health, depriving us of all nutrients we consume. There are certain symptoms which can tell us whether we are suffering from such infestation or not.

Pork tapeworm and beef tapeworm are the most common types of these parasites. However, humans can get infected by fish tapeworm and dwarf tapeworm as well. Echinococcus infestation is the most dangerous of all infestations caused by tapeworms.

Symptoms of Tapeworm Infestation

Most commonly, people with tapeworms are likely to experience upper abdominal pain and discomfort, diarrhea or loss of appetite. Those suffering from fish tapeworms may become anemic. In all cases, the infestation can be confirmed by stool analysis, since, most of the time, a part of a tapeworm gets expelled through bowel movement and is present in the stool. Moreover, in some rare cases, tapeworms can block one's intestine or cause severe headaches or even stroke or seizures (once the tapeworm reaches the brain).

Fleas and Tapeworm

Fleas your pet might have are capable of carrying tapeworms as well. You can protect your pet, as well as yourself by examining the stool of the animal. If it contains rice-like elements, it is likely that the animal is suffering from tapeworms.

Additionally, the dog may have anal wounds or suffer from other problems in this area. Initially, tapeworms attach themselves to the intestine walls and consume nutrients from there, growing. However, they may also break in several parts, moving around one's organism, spreading around.

Treatment of Tapeworms

There are not many medications available for treating tapeworm infestations successfully. Fortunately, Drontal is one of the best ones used for tapeworms in dogs. Once you get this medication, treat the sufferer three times until the tapeworm symptoms are gone.

Administration of this drug is to be repeated every two weeks since the first application is likely to get rid of adult tapeworms while the latter ones destroy the other, surviving parasites of this type.

As for your dog, the best treatment is prevention. Thus, keep it safe from fleas and you will keep it safe from tapeworms as well. Pay attention to symptoms of flees, which are scratching, blood or loss of hair.

Finally, remember that your dog may transfer these parasites onto you and your children, so be very careful and react timely.