Tapeworms.. Great.. NOT
 

Ok, so somebody had an accident in the living room and ter da.. there were creepy crawlies in it.. EWWW.. Since both Harleys and Zeus's poop is the same size I examined both of their bums to see who had gone potty and EWWW again he had one hanging off his bum! So THAT'S why he's been dragging his butt on the floor! :eek: I'm pretty sure it's a segment of a tapeworm. It's about half and inch long and white and wiggles really slowly. So do you guys think I should take him to the vet to be treated or use over the counter? And for either one.. what brands do you recommend or not recommend? I was about to have dinner but pretty much lost my appetite.. Hope I didn't ruin yours too! Have a great Christmas!

ewwww...is right - another parasite with unknown reasons to be on this planet ..........

I would search the net and look for treatment (I would for you but my computer is not protected right now) - the best thing to do is go to some of the vet sites and do a search on them - some sites show you pictures so you can get an idea of what KIND of worm ...then.... get them outta there !!

I would be grossed out too but you need to treat them right away and some can be treated over the counter ....GOOD LUCK and Merry Christmas !!

Luckily I was not eating when I read this, Ewwwww. But...Id take your babies to the vet and have a stool test done to confirm which type of worm this is.

If it is tapeworm I have read that the over the counter dewormers are neither as effective nor as safe as those available from your vet.

Im so sorry your little guy has parasites. I think is best to take him to the vet to get meds and have a fecal test done. I found this info on Tapeworms. Hope is usefull. I hope your little guy gets better soon.

petsmart sells a brand called "tradewinds" (??) which is now over the counter (it used to be perscription).... when my cat came into the house she had worms and we called our vet, he said that this was a good brand... my dad uses it as well and it works for him too

Poor Harley and Zeus...
 

What a bummer for your pooches! :( Thank goodness it's so treatable. Keep reminding yourself "It's only temporary. It's only temporary".

Good luck, and may the wigglies be gone QUICKLY!! :thumbup:

Icky.. I just found more on his bottom.. poor little guy.. I feel so bad for not noticing sooner.. I have some over the counter dewormer but am kinda leaning for the vet just to be safe. I appriciate all the quick responses! Especially on christmas eve! :D Monday morning I'm calling my vet! In the mean time.. I'm gonna search the net for as much info as I can. My bf told me he thinks that tapeworms are passed when a dog eats a flea that has it?? Is that true? :confused: Should I be worried about getting them??

Your boyfriend is rite. I attached a link on my previous post, I guess you didn't see it. So here it is again, hope is useful.

Rocky's Dad
 

Tape worms come from fleas. Ensure that your dog is free of fleas and see the vet. My yorkie had tape worms and the vet took care of the problem with one pill. Yes, they can be passed to humans.

EWWW! But how?

The vet is the best bet if its tapeworms, ugh....you have a wait though, the vets around here aren't open until Tuesday! Odd time of year for them though...unless you are in warm part of the country. Good luck, I know its a pain, went through the same thing a few months ago.

I feel really bad bc he got them from his fleas.. which I've been treating by giving him garlic suppliments to help fight them naturally instead of with all the harmful chemicals.. It's working bc I haven't found one flea on him since I started him on them but I guess he's had them since before then. See I used to 'go through' his poo everyday bc he's a gulper and eats random things but these past couple months he's been really good and hasn't eaten anything (that I've seen) so I only watch him go to the bathroom to make sure his stool looks healthy and normal so I never saw the worms. I'm calling my vet asap.. I hope they're open monday..

That site is so packed with info! Thanks so much! I feel a little better knowing that they aren't hurting him.. So I can now wait semi-patiently until I can take him to the vet..

i don't know who said, "they can't hurt him". Over Thanksgiving when Ceeby almost died, I took him to the vet the day after and he asked me if he had fleas and I said yes, but I am treating them. he gave him a SHOT for tapeworms and told me if left untreated they can be fatal to these little dogs. I would not take a chance if I were you but would be at the vet as soon as he reopens after Christmas. I did not even see any worms from Ceeby and his fecal test was negative but he was in such bad shape, the vet thought it was best to go ahead and give him the shot. And yes, they are caused from flea bites.

Hi,

Some folks swear that Brewer's Yeast, Garlic, or Vitamin B does the trick for their pups flea regimen, however, there is little scientific evidence to support such remedies. I did find this on the internet so I thought I would post it for you.

Garlic Flea Remedy Dangerous For Dog
09/19/2005
Q. I heard that garlic could keep fleas from biting, so I put some in my dog's food for about a week. He became lethargic and couldn't even climb the lowest stairs. I thought this might be a reaction to the antibiotics I had him on to heal sores from the original flea bites.
I took him in again to check for infection, but there wasn't any. I casually mentioned the garlic, and the vet said that garlic is toxic to dogs. It causes something called Heinz body anemia. Please warn other readers.
A. Both garlic and onions can cause anemia in dogs. Cats are even more susceptible.
People often assume that they can give their pets the same things they take themselves, but that's not necessarily a good idea. Always check with the vet before giving your pet any medicine or extra treats like chocolate or raisins, which are also toxic to dogs.
If it's a no-no to give onions to cats and dogs, how can garlic be okay to give for flea prevention? Aren't they in the same family?

Since becoming the pet columnist, I've made it my mission to find the best veterinary experts to address various pet topics. For this column, Rebecca Remillard, DVM, PhD, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition, MSPCA Angell Memorial Animal Hospital, Boston, offers her expertise.

Although some people feed onion or garlic to pets, I do not recommend it, and I don't serve either to my pets. Onions and garlic do come from the same family. Both contain a compound that is toxic to red blood cell membranes in dogs and cats. This toxic effect, particularly in onions, stays no matter if the onion is raw, cooked, dehydrated, or in powder form.

As for garlic, there are plenty of reports of pets who are regularly fed garlic and garlic extract to ward off fleas, then develop skin problems and asthmatic attacks. Some can also develop a certain anemia, but it is hard to predict which animal may have such a reaction. Read food labels carefully before serving your pet any commercial foods with garlic or onions, and avoid serving him homemade foods with these ingredients.

Bottom line: Why risk your pet's health?