Tapeworms resemble long, flat ribbons or tapes, divided up into segments. The mature tapeworm segments are filled with eggs, and individual segments break off, to pass via the dog’s anus into the environment.
The commonest tapeworm to affect dogs in the UK is the flea tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum), so called because it uses the flea as an intermediate host.
Dogs are infected by swallowing fleas while grooming, and once in the dog’s gut, the worm larva carried by the flea begins to develop into an adult worm, which can quickly grow to a length of 500 mm. But even this is not the longest worm which can infect UK dogs: some species can reach a frightening 5 metres in length!
Tapeworms resemble long, flat ribbons or tapes, divided up into segments. The mature tapeworm segments are filled with eggs, and individual segments break off, to pass via the dog’s anus into the environment.
The commonest tapeworm to affect dogs in the UK is the flea tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum), so called because it uses the flea as an intermediate host.
Dogs are infected by swallowing fleas while grooming, and once in the dog’s gut, the worm larva carried by the flea begins to develop into an adult worm, which can quickly grow to a length of 500 mm. But even this is not the longest worm which can infect UK dogs: some species can reach a frightening 5 metres in length!
