tapeworm yuk yuk yuk WARNING TMI ALERT

[SouthWestWhippet]

Saw my dog doing a poo earlier, ignored it but noticed something hanging out her bum afterwards [GROSS]. Decided that this was HER problem not mine as we were all up on the land with the horses and assumed was something yucky she had eaten, so I finished poo picking then noticed she was still struggling with it.

She kept trying to poo it out and it looked as if some blood was coming out as well

so I rushed over. It was two white (well maggoty coloured) stringy things which I noticed were actually MOVING.

I'm 18 weeks pregnant and there is no running water at yard (well, not safe drinking water) so I really couldn't touch it or help her as would not be able to wash hands after. I did what i could with my shoe though. Bloody things just break off and lie on ground wriggling though.

Eventually got situation under control, took dog home and dosed both dogs on Drontol Plus. I thought they wer up-to-date for wormers but apparently the suspension I have been using left over from a litter of puppies does not kill tapeworm so this would explain it if that is what it is.

Now horrified that I may have tapeworm too as am disgustingly snuggly with my dogs and they share bed at night etc. Also fretting about baby. Am going to GP tomorrow but does anyone have any advice or experience about tapeworm in dogs/cross contamination with humans/tapeworm if pregnant?

Thank god I am over the worst of morning sickness though as was exceptionally gross experience. Poor dog too.

 

[Cliqmo]

Just googled it and this came up:

Canine tapeworms are intestinal parasites that attached themselves to the intestinal wall with their hook-like mouths and may reach several inches in length by adulthood. Dogs become infected with tapeworms by eating fleas that are infected while licking or chewing themselves. Dogs can also become infected if they eat a rabbit or rodent that has tapeworm, although this method of contracting the parasite is much less common.

It's rare for humans to contract tapeworms but it can happen. More commonly, this occurs with children rather than adults. Children playing with pets or outside, such as in a sandbox, may accidentally swallow an infected flea. Tapeworms can not be passed between children or adults. Humans can only become infected with the parasite by ingesting infected fleas. The symptoms for humans are similar to those of dogs and include segments of tapeworm (resembling grains of rice) being passed in the feces and/or appearing stuck on the skin around the anal area.

The best way to prevent tapeworm in you and your pets is year around flea control


Edt to add that furter investigation makes me suspect it might have been roundworm NOT tapeworm, which can be contracted by people and can cause blindness...best to stop sharing the bed and best to get to the Docs me thinks

 

[camilla4]

South West Whippet - you'll need to be extra scrupulous about general hygiene and, in additon, you'll need to wash everything that comes into contact with the dog - all bedding etc. As already mentioned, flea treatment is paramount but it is also worth worming now and then again in a couple of weeks time.

Nasty things, tapeworms, but they do disappear and the above should help prevent reinfection! As a courtesy, it may be a good idea to discourage visiting dogs for a short while in case infected fleas transfer wormy to them..