Test your knowledge with this VTNE sample question. For BCSE and NAVLE please visit www.vetvideos.com
A client calls in a panic because they just saw a live tapeworm segment on their cat's feces. Which of the following drugs is most commonly prescribed to treat tapeworms (cestodes)?
- Fenbendazole
- Praziquantel
- Ivermectin
- Metronidazole
Explanation:
Praziquantel (e.g., Droncit) is the drug of choice for treating common cestodes (tapeworms) like Dipylidium caninum and Taenia species. Fenbendazole treats other nematodes (roundworms, hookworms, whipworms). Ivermectin is a broad-spectrum parasiticide primarily used for heartworm prevention and treating mites, but not tapeworms. Metronidazole is an antibiotic and antiprotozoal.