Tapeworm Prevention
Tapeworms do not spread on contact. They are normally spread from animal to animal by ingestion of an intermediate host that is infected. Common intermediate hosts are fleas and small animals such as rats, mice and rabbits. In order to reduce the risk that your pet is infected by tapeworm, it is important to control intermediate hosts:
Sheep - rural dogs should not be fed offal from home killed sheep and it is preferable to feed dry or canned propietary dog foods. Dogs should be prevented from straying and scavenging sheep carcases in the paddock.
Rabbits - rabbit control will help reduce the incidence of Taenia pisiformis and is important and is important in rural areas for other management reasons as well.
Fleas - should be controlled with a total flea control program to reduce the risk of reinfection with Dipylidium caninum.
Other - where possible eliminate unnecessary ponds etc. to destroy the breeding grounds for the intestinal hists of spirometra erinacei.
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