Tapeworms are not contagious, like a cold, per se, but they are transmittable — through fleas — from animal to animal and in rare cases to humans.
Many types of tapeworm larvae are found in fleas; if a flea is ingested, the tapeworm larvae begins to grow when inside your cat. This is not, however, the only way your furry friend can contract tapeworms. Some cats eat the faeces of infected cats, which can pass on the parasite.
Can I get a tapeworm infection from my pet? Yes; however, the risk of infection with this tapeworm in humans is very low. For a person to become infected with Dipylidium, he or she must accidentally swallow an infected flea. Most reported cases involve children.
YES! Fido can indeed catch tapeworms from Mr. Whiskers, albeit indirectly. Most commonly, tapeworm is spread among household pets by an intermediate host such as a flea.
Regardless of how regal they may seem, cats can carry worms and kissing your pet on their fur or head can lead to the transfer of worms to people.
People can also contract hookworms. Like tapeworms, hookworms can enter humans by being accidently consumed (for example, after petting your flea-infested dog or cat). Hookworm larvae can also burrow into your skin if you walk across a contaminated area in your bare feet.
Ingesting Fleas
It's also possible for tapeworms to be transmitted directly from pets to humans; we can become infected with the flea tapeworm if we eat an infected flea by accident, often through playing or sleeping with our pet.
As the adult tapeworm matures, individual segments called proglottids, break off from the main body of the tapeworm and pass in the cat's feces.
Tapeworms can live up to two years if untreated, but often do not cause great harm to their host. These worms can grow up to 20 inches long, however, they are usually smaller. Tapeworm infestations are fairly common in cats, and veterinary treatment is very effective at eradicating them.
In most cases, a person has to ingest parasite-laden feces in order to contract worms from an animal. Good common sense and hygiene greatly reduces the risk, Weese said. “The risk is never zero,” Weese said, “but I'm not convinced it's any higher for a vet than someone that goes for a walk in the park.”
If these dried segments are ingested, it is possible to pass on the tape worm parasite. Beware, HUMANS ARE ABLE TO GET TAPE WORMS. If you see these dried segments around your house, and aren't sure if they are sesame seeds or small grains of rice, DO NOT EAT THEM.
Most dewormers will fall in line with those mentioned in this article, requiring an initial period of only 2-3 weeks to eliminate worms; however, some treatments will also require a second dosage to eradicate the second wave of parasites.
For instance, if your cat is diagnosed with dipylidium caninum, you will need to treat your cat, home, and other pets for fleas as well as tapeworms to prevent reinfection. Flea infestations can be tricky to manage, and can also expose other cats and dogs in the home to tapeworms.
It is always safest to test all household pet members for parasites (fecal or stool sample) OR treat all household pet members as if they are infected. Treatment may be in the form of liquid, pill, powder or topical medication.
Indoor cats can become infected with tapeworm in a few different ways, but the most common is by eating infected fleas. Even though your cat may never set a paw outdoors, fleas can hitch a ride into your home on your clothes, on other pets or even on other visitors to your home.
If they are well and eating / drinking / urinating / deafecating / breathing normally, then you don't need to present as an emergency.
Tapeworms can grow up to two-feet in length inside a cat and as they slough off segments, they have to come out. Usually appearing like little grains of rice, tapeworm segments might be spotted in your cat's poop or on or around his general anus area.
If left untreated, tapeworms can cause intestinal inflammation and secondary health issues. Older cats and kittens are especially susceptible to the adverse effects of intestinal parasites. In extreme cases, kittens may develop intestinal obstructions from adult tapeworms.
The tapeworm eggs can live in the environment in grass and soil, carpets and dust, so it is hard to eliminate the process of infection as we cannot keep this permanently clean.
It takes 3 weeks from the time the flea is swallowed to the time tapeworm segments appear on the pet's rear end or stool.
A: If tapeworm infections go untreated, then there is the potential for cats to begin to exhibiting the typical tapeworm symptoms in cats: vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss or poor appetite. Kittens and much older cats are especially susceptible to the adverse effects of intestinal parasites.
Use newspapers or paper towels to clean up waste. Rinse the soiled area with hot water and detergent. Scrub away as much of the soiling as you can, blotting with towels. Use an enzymatic cleaner to remove stains and odours.
What to expect after deworming a kitten. Your kitten might still have worms after deworming as deworming products typically take between two and four days to take effect. In some cases, a second dose is also required. The worms should be gone in two to three weeks after administering the dewormer medication.