The Animal House Rescue
Medical Directory
Tapeworm (Dipylidium Caninum) 
It is not surprising that Tapeworms are often referred to in two separate words as in Tape Worms because the description of these parasites is that they have the appearance of an old fashioned tape measure. These types of worms are called Dipylidium caninum. The segments of a tapeworm are small but altogether canine Tapeworms measure at least 6 inches ( and can be over 20 feet! ) and live in the dog's intestines and it lives by absorbing nutrients through its skin, as the food being digested by the dog flows past it. The generic term "worms" is usually used to describe Roundworms - the most common of all the canine worms.
Transmission of Tapeworms
There are several species of tapeworms and they are transmitted via fleas which the dog can ingest whilst grooming or when a dog eats infective eggs or larvae which live in the soil or in small rodents.
Symptoms of Tapeworms
The symptoms of Tapeworms are as follows:
Dogs susceptible to Tapeworms
Dogs are susceptible to worms, including Tapeworms, at all ages of dogs but the greatest frequency is found in puppies. These particularly refer to the Tapeworms and the Roundworms. Worms are typically found in puppies, whilst tapeworms are more common in older dogs | 
