Tapeworms can be described as long, flat, and segmented worms. Egg-filled mature segments at the end of a tapeworm get released and then passed through fecal matter. The segments look like rice grains and could at times be visible in the cat’s feces, on her bed, and on the fur surrounding her anal region.
All tapeworms will need intermediary hosts to ingest their eggs. This is part of the parasite’s life cycle. A cat will get infected by feeding upon that intermediary host. Each tapeworm species will have its own intermediary host animal. Typical tapeworm species that can be found in cats throughout the world are the Taenia taeniaeformis and the Dipylidium caninum.
Fleas transmit Dipylidium caninum to cats. Immature flea larvae swallow tapeworm eggs and then pass along the infestation to a cat after that flea gets swallowed as the cat grooms herself. You can probably assume that a cat infected with Dipylidium caninum also has fleas, and a flea-infested cat also has that tapeworm species.
Small rodents like mice and rats can pass Taenia taeniaeformis to cats. The rodent swallows the tapeworm eggs from their surroundings, then a cat preys upon the infected rodent. This kind of transmission typically happens to cats who like to hunt.
Consult your local vet Marietta, GA about the best way to eliminate internal parasites from your pet and prevent future infestations.
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