About a week ago, I spied a little rice-grained sized thingy in Violets doodoo. Like a planarian. Dismissed it as 'from the soil' as she checked out A-OK for worms at her last vet visit. Well, kept seeing them. After the third or so BM, we saw them "in the fresh" (so to speak)--definitely coming from inside! Vet says it is a tapeworm.

I though we were covered with the Trifexis, but it only covers fleas, heart worm, hookworms, roundworms, whip worms. Apparently, tapeworms come from ingested fleas, rabbits, and kittens. Maybe that's where they came from? He prescribed Drontal Plus tabs. Supposed to take care of every parasite save for heart worm. We shall see!

They're super easy to get rid of. My dogs are are Heartgard Plus which doesn't cover tapeworm either. Only twice have any of my pack gotten tapeworms and when they dog get tapeworm I give them a dose of WormX Plus (no prescription needed and you can pick it up at your local pet store or order it online which is cheaper). Drontal Plus has the same ingredients in it as WormX Plus to kill tapeworms (it kills both species, not just one like some other wormers) so I'm sure Violet will be worm free in no time. They say one or two doses will get rid of them, my dogs have always been free and clear of tapeworms after only one dose.

Be sure to vacuum and clean the dogs' bedding as the little rice looking pieces can be left behind wherever the dogs have been. Not always but sometimes so it's a good idea to clean up after them just as a precaution. Don't want those tapeworms spreading!

Yeah, tapes are easy to treat. I get a few foster kittens with tapeworms and the meds clear them up quickly.

Well, so far I've sifted through three BM's. I've discovered:

1. Piece of felt ear from a stuffed animal
2. Several pieces of gravel
3. Plastic shards from our son's microwave dinner bowl
4. Some straw
5. Pieces of foam rubber
6. Pillow stuffing material....

But so far no worms. How long does it take?

I usually give it a few days after giving them a wormer. Sometimes you'll see them and sometimes you won't. I generally wait about 4-5 days and then start checking seriously. If they still have worms in their stool a week after the first dose then I'll give a second dose. But none of mine have ever needed a second dose, by day 5 after the wormer their stools are generally consistently clear.

The1930sRust wrote:

Well, so far I've sifted through three BM's. I've discovered:

1. Piece of felt ear from a stuffed animal
2. Several pieces of gravel
3. Plastic shards from our son's microwave dinner bowl
4. Some straw
5. Pieces of foam rubber
6. Pillow stuffing material....

Sometimes I think a husky's digestive system must be made of steel! (I know it's not really and serious problems can occur from ingested items.) I have seen and heard of some crazy stuff passing through though!

Good luck with those worms. *Shiver* Our outside cat had tapeworms last year and I was losing it!

The meds you get from the Vet usually dissolve the tapes (gross i know!!) so you most likely won't see any unless they need another dose. I agree with Val, start seriously checking 4-5 days after the initial dose.