You may find tapeworm segments stuck to the fur under your pet's tail, or on whatever surface your pet has slept on. The segments are small and white and resemble a grain of rice, except they may wiggle and move on their own, much unlike a grain of rice.
Do tapeworm segments move independently?
While the tapes worms live inside your pet's intestines, they feed off the food your pet eats and digests, and then make their way along the natural path that follows. Tape worms have the signature characteristic breaking off segments of the main worm, which creates small “mini” worms that move independently.
Do tapeworm segments live?
The worms that are passed will be dead, but segments are full of eggs that could potentially hatch. You prevent reinfection by preventing exposure to intermediate hosts. Treat for fleas if there are any.
What do tapeworm fragments look like?
These segments look like grains of rice and contain tapeworm eggs, which are released into the environment when the segment dries. The dried segments are small (about 1/16-inch), hard and golden in color.
How do you identify a tapeworm segment?
Diagnosis for tapeworm infection is usually done through detection of eggs and proglottids (worm segments) via a stool test, although many patients' tapeworms are detected when they find proglottids in their own stool or in the toilet. It's not possible to determine which species of tapeworm is present without testing.
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