A healthy adult indoor-outdoor male intact cat is presented for vaccination.
The following is structure is noted protruding from the anus during the exam (see below).
What is this?
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These tapeworm proglottids could be Taenia taeniaformis or Dipylidium caninum. Cats acquire T. taeniaformis from eating wild rodents (common).
D. caninum is the most common cestode infection in both cats and dogs. Fleas carry the parasite, and dogs and cats are infected when they bite at fleas and ingest them. Adult cestodes in the intestine of cats do not usually cause clinical signs.
Dx is straightforward – identify proglottids or eggs in feces.
Tx: You can treat with epsiprantel or praziquantel. Fenbendazole works for T. taeniaformis. Flea control is imperative to prevent reoccurrence.
