[chinos_mom]

So, I guess I didn't get Chino outside quick enough and he pooped on my living room floor (thank GOD for hardwoods). At any rate, this may have been a blessing because I was forced to look at his poop. His poop had rice (?!) in it which after further research I have determined to potentially be worms. I called the vet and he wants a sample. Now I am concerned because he has already been on his first visit to the vet and he did not diagnose him with fleas. I've never seen a flea but he has had one butt dragging episode, puked 1 time (undigested food), but outside of that appears to be totally happy and healthy. I am also concerned because I have a 5 year old and 2 year old whom are extremely affectionate with Chino...what to do??? I know I should bathe him in DAWN, but what is an easy way to determine whether or not he has fleas?? PLEASE HELP! Any info is greatly appreciated...

 

[Guest]

I'm a little confused, what do fleas and tapeworms have to do with each other?  The butt dragging would be due to worms, not fleas.  If the vet did not find fleas on the guy, then I wouldn't worry about fleas.  when you see visible worms in the dog's poop, all they do is deworm- for tapeworms it's a single pill from what i remember with Jetta.  You are also gonna want the fecal sample to rule out roundworms.  Most puppies have worms...it's normal...take some poop to the vet...they will float it and look for eggs...then they will give you meds.  Some worms can infect people...make sure your kids wash their hands after playing with the puppy...don't let them near where he poops...clean the area he pottys in very well...since it's hardwood, I'd use bleach.

 

[sharonL]

The only way for a dog to have tapeworms is to have fleas.  That is the lifecycle of the tapeworm...the dog eats the flea and then it becomes a tapeworm.....This does not mean your dog is infested with fleas, it only takes one!  I would keep using the Dawn or go to a monthly topical flea treatment or research some holistic things with garlic.....

The vet can also rule out there are any other worms or if you have concern for them use Drontal as your wormer since it will kill tapes, rounds and hookworms

 

[Guest]

wow...the vet I went to gave me some crappy information Sharon...another reason I need to find a new one...she said the tapeworms were from the mother...and that it was a normal puppy situation....I really don't think I will be going back to that vet again...jeez

 

[sharonL]

wow...the vet I went to gave me some crappy information Sharon...another reason I need to find a new one...she said the tapeworms were from the mother...and that it was a normal puppy situation....I really don't think I will be going back to that vet again...jeez

haha....no...they can also pass from the mom....but they come from fleas.  It does not pass through the milk like roundoworms do though!

 

[Diesel-and-Kira]

ya know I think I've heard the mother / tapeworm thing too. I never heard they came from fleas.

 

[sharonL]

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_tapeworm.html

here is a great link to get more info on tapeworms.....  The little picture of the dogs bottom and segments always makes me laugh

 

[48Dodge]

My greyhound had tapeworms twice.  Both times he didn't have fleas, but was around a dog that did.  Probably ate one flea and that was it.  When I got Cooper, he had tapeworms, too.  But no fleas, no room on his skin for them!  I'm sure he was probably surrounded by them at his old house, though.  One pill typically clears them up.  Cooper actually had 2 pills spaced 2 weeks apart, but the first one actually knocked them out.

 

[CrazieKC]

Kaci had some sort of worms (either tape or round, I don't remember) when she was 3-4 months old. I don't remember her ever having fleas, but like the others have said, I think one or two pills cleared it all up and she started gaining weight again.

 

[chinos_mom]

THANKS SOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!!! DH took Chino and his poop sample to the vet and they analyzed it...it was not tapeworms so YAYYYYYY, it actually had something to do with myself and the kids feeding him table food (pineapple and turkey bacon to be exact). His poop was mushy and for some reason  had what looked like rice segments in it...I panicked, sometimes too much research can hinder you more than helping you!! At any rate Chino is fine and has clearly been placed on a NON table food diet. Thanks again for all of your input, it was greatly appreciated! 8)

 

[Guest]

lol...pineapple and turkey bacon....hmmmm interesting!  lol...glad to hear it isn't worms...and glad to hear you are putting him on a simple dog food diet, lol

 

[Zhanna]

Henry just had a bout with tapeworms.

Doc says he could have eaten the fleas from the birds he's been killing/eating! :roll:   Soooooooo glad it's a simple fix!

 

[owenowlsnest]

The story I heard about tapeworms was they probably came from eating rabbit poop in the yard.  There's a buffet of raccoon, possum, goose and other droppings in the area.  There was not one flea on this foster pup.  If freezing kills the worms, and the weather has not gotten over the freezing mark for months, I don't get the connection.  I'd really like to get an answer regarding this.  Thanks for the interesting topic.  

Same yard, same critters, but we never had a problem with our Boxer and tapes.  I imagine the wildlife are loaded with fleas.

 

[chinos_mom]

[quote="aquagirl900\";p=\"96040":2v95g9q1]lol...pineapple and turkey bacon....hmmmm interesting!