Have you ever ween what appears to be rice in your pet's poop? Many of us have seen this, and it's not rice. It's a parasite that can pose some human risks as well as those risks to your pet. The parasite is a tapeworm. Dogs and cats become infected with tapeworms by swallowing a flea that contains the immature stage of the tapeworm, or by eating rodents, birds, reptiles, rabbits, and other animal parts. Tapeworm symptoms are often simply the appearance of small white worms, which when dried resemble grains of rice. These white pieces often appear around the anus or on the feces. These small white pieces are actually the terminal segments of the tapeworm which are filled with tapeworm eggs. Your pet may drag his or her rear end on the ground (scooting) due to the irritation from these worms. In order to help control these parasites and reduce the likelihood of human exposure, our veterinarian, Dr. Wayne Johnson at Birdneck Animal Hospital, recommends year round monthly flea control and administering a broad spectrum dewormer at least every 6 months that covers tapeworm treatment.
Questions about tapeworms, fleas and other parasites? Ask us! As your Virginia Beach veterinarian, we welcome your questions. Please feel free to call us at 757-355-5694 for additional information, or stop by and visit us as Birdneck Animal Hospital, 508 N Birdneck Rd., Ste C, Virginia Beach, VA 23451