Download Q: I was told by my veterinarian that my cat has tapeworms. Can my

Q: I was told by my veterinarian that my cat has tapeworms. Can my children or my dog get
them from my cat? How serious are they?
A: There are two basic types of tapeworms that cats can contract. The most common type, Dipylidium,
is one that your cat can only get by swallowing a flea. So, if you never saw any fleas on your cat, you
need to look harder. The tapeworm eggs are eaten by flea larvae, and the immature stages of the
tapeworm develop inside the flea. They become mature, reproducing worms once they are eaten by the
cat and released from the flea inside your cat's stomach. Your children or dog would not get infected
with tapeworms unless, like the cat, they swallowed an infected flea.
The second species of tapeworm found in cats, Taenia, develops inside small mammals - rabbits,
rodents and the like. So if your cat goes outside or hunts, he could have gotten this type of tapeworm
when he swallowed the prey animal that was hosting the developing tapeworms. Again, a dog or child
would not contract this type of tapeworm from your cat; they are only infectious when a more
developed stage is eaten with the intermediate rodent or rabbit host.
Tapeworm infestation is diagnosed by seeing the small, flat, white, tapeworm segments that pass out of
the anal area. These segments contain the worm eggs and break off while the adult worm remains
attached to the lining of the cat's intestines. It takes about three weeks from the time the flea or rodent
is swallowed until tapeworm segments are seen passing out of the cat.
Once the segment passes out the anus, it can fall to the ground or stick to the cat's hair under the tail.
They will look like little grains of rice or sesame seeds. Microscopically, the eggs of the tapeworm may
be seen in a stool specimen, but not too commonly, since they are still contained in a packet when
passed.
Tapeworm infection is usually not a serious disease, but may be a source of discomfort to the pet, and
disgust to the pet owner. Treatment is by a prescription of pills or by an injection. The dead worms will
be digested, so you won't see them passing after the treatment. If the flea or hunting problem that
caused the original infection is not taken care of, your cat can easily get re-infected with tapeworms
and will need to be retreated.
Dr. Francine Rattner
South Arundel Veterinary Hospital