tapeworm is becoming more prevalent in North America with rapid expansion being seen in the northeastern United States, following its introduction from Europe.

 A study published in 2024 also noted a need for veterinary awareness of endemic risk regions as well as emerging risk of this zoonotic parasite in northwestern US states.

“We're finding a European strain now, and the European strain does seem to be more transmissible to humans and dogs. We think that that might be what we're seeing [with] rapid spread right now,” said Brian Herrin, DVM, PhD, a parasitology expert and clinical professor at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Manhattan, Kansas.

 largely affects wild and domestic canid species serving as definitive hosts as well as intermediate hosts that include rodents.

The risk to humans increases dramatically when domestic dogs are infected with the parasite, according to Herrin. In a ‘lunch and learn’ session at the 2025 WVC Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, he also discussed diagnosis of 

infection and managing this parasitic infection.

definitive hosts such as dogs, red and gray foxes, and coyotes typically become infected by feeding on rodents infested with these parasites. According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, adult 

tapeworms in canids live in the small intestines and are transmitted through the hosts’ feces. Feces containing 

 eggs are then consumed by mice and voles, which serve as intermediate hosts for the parasite. Domestic dogs can also be intermediate hosts as well as definitive hosts.

travels to organs that include the liver and lungs of its’ hosts. The larvae become hydatid cysts, which eventually affects organ function.

 “[A cyst] puts a lot of pressure on the surrounding tissues,” Herrin said.

Although wild canids do not typically show signs of 

 infection, symptoms shown in other species depend on the severity and location of the cysts. These signs may include abdominal pain, weakness, weight loss, and liver disease. However, because 

cysts grow slowly, signs of infection may not be seen for years.

 proglottids are microscopic and cannot be seen, according to Herrin. He noted that annual fecal flotations using centrifugation are important for early identification for this parasitic infection. These eggs are heavy and will not float with a passive flotation, he cautioned. “It’s just not a sensitive technique,” Herrin said. “Sedimentations might be a better option.”

 infection is suspected, Herrin recommended following up a centrifugal fecal float by administering a PCR test designed for 

 “It detects 20 parasites and can differentiate Dipylidium, Taenia and 

In a study published in 2024 that was cited by Herrin in his lecture, 26 of more than 2.3 million PCR surveillance tests were positive for 

 infection between March 2022 and July 2024. Seventeen of the 26 positive tests were sequenced as European haplotypes, and 8 also had eggs identified by centrifugal flotation.

infection often includes praziquantel, which is effective at the adult stage, according to Herrin. The 2024 study found that 25 dogs were administered praziquantel for detected infection, and all were qPCR-negative in 3 to 5 weeks after treatment with the drug.

There is no drug on the market that can prevent dogs from infection at the alveolar stages once eggs are ingested, Herrin said. However, prevention of 

may be achieved by educating veterinary teams and clients, and having pets avoid the ingestion of canid feces.

: a slow-moving trainwreck? Presented at: WVC; Las Vegas, NV. March 2-5, 2025.

. Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Accessed March 4, 2025. 

https://dwr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/media/E.-multi-factsheet-1.pdf

Conlon CL, Brigandi JP, Frair JL, et al. 

 in New York wildlife: distribution and genetic diversity of an emerging pathogen. 

Evason MD, Peregrine AS, Jenkins EJ. Emerging 

in 26 dogs from the United States and Canada (2022-2024). 

. 2024;263(2). doi:10.2460/javma.24.07.0471

Parasites and diseases: alveolar hydatid disease. Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Accessed March 4, 2025. 

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=disease.internal1

Articles

Echinococcus multilocularis infection is becoming more prevalent in North American wild and domestic canid species 

What to know about an emerging tapeworm risk

Image Credit: © kkolosov - stock.adobe.com

At the 2025 WVC Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, Yoko Nagamori, DVM, MS, DACVM, presented a session based on findings from a preprint study she led—

Prevalence of spurious parasites identified in feces of dogs and correlation with true canine parasitism

—which offers potential insights on canine gastrointestinal parasitism and its diagnostic challenges.

The study, conducted at Zoetis Reference Laboratories in Louisville, Kentucky, where Nagamori serves as head of parasitology, retrospectively analyzed 48,509 fecal samples collected from client-owned dogs throughout 2023. Its primary aim was to differentiate between true parasitic infections and spurious parasite findings—artifacts that can mimic true infection but do not require treatment. According to the study’s findings, true canine parasites were identified in 12.3% of the 48,509 samples, while spurious parasites were detected in 4.8% of the samples. Notably, Eimeria oocysts accounted for the majority of spurious findings, being present in 4.14% of all samples. The predominance of Eimeria among spurious parasites is relevant given its frequent misidentification during routine fecal examinations, which can lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment decisions.

The study also discussed the statistically significant correlation between the presence of spurious parasites and true parasitic infections (P < 0.0001). This finding may suggest that dogs excreting spurious parasites are at an elevated risk of harboring true parasitic infections, potentially because of shared exposure factors such as coprophagic, predatory, or scavenging behaviors. The study’s findings further revealed that canines under 12 months exhibited a higher prevalence of spurious parasites, a trend that was mirrored in the occurrence of true parasitic infections. In addition, the data showed that intact female dogs had the highest rate of spurious parasite detection when compared with other sex/reproductive groups.

Seasonal trends also emerged from the analysis. The prevalence of spurious parasites peaked in February, while true parasitic infections reached their highest levels in January. These seasonal variations may be related to increased environmental contamination and changes in canine behavior during the colder months, as well as to the breeding patterns of various animal species that serve as definitive hosts for parasites like Eimeria, according to the study.

The study addressed the practical implications of these findings for everyday veterinary practice, including the importance of proper fecal sample collection techniques—ideally, collecting 3 to 5 g of fresh fecal matter immediately after defecation—and for performing examinations promptly or storing samples under refrigeration if delays are unavoidable. By doing so, practitioners can enhance the sensitivity of fecal examinations and better differentiate between spurious and true parasitic infections, the study implies.

The study concluded with a call to action to integrate these diagnostic insights into routine practice. By recognizing the significance of spurious parasites as potential indicators of environmental exposure and increased risk for true parasitism, clinicians can refine their diagnostic approaches and with the goal of improving patient care.

Nagamori Y. Are you seeing the GI parasites that are seeing you? Emerging prevalence data. Presented at: WVC; Las Vegas, Nevada. March 2-5, 2025.

Nagamori Y, Warren Z, Houma M, et al. "Prevalence of spurious parasites identified in feces of dogs and correlation with true canine parasitism." SSRN. Published 2023. doi:10.2139/ssrn.5141670

Emerging data from a recent study reveal that the frequent misidentification of spurious parasites in canine feces may signal an elevated risk of true parasitism, emphasizing the importance of accurate fecal diagnostics.

Trends in canine GI parasitism

Canine allergic dermatitis is a complex condition that can be influenced by environment, genetics, immune response, skin barrier function, and the cutaneous microbiome of the dog. Because of the complexity of this condition, what do the treatment options and plans look like for these canine patients?

Anti-Hero: A Variety of Inflammatory and Antipruritic Medications for Canine Allergic Dermatitis, 

Brittany Lancellotti, DVM, DACVD, shared a review of therapeutic options available to manage inflammations and pruritus. Throughout the lecture, Lancellotti shared multiple types of medications available to veterinary professionals, through slides and her own version of karaoke [Dermatology Version].

Glucocorticoids (GCs) bind to cytoplasmic glucocorticoid receptors, then translocate to the nucleus where they modulate gene transcription by binding to glucocorticoid response elements. This process upregulates anti-inflammatory proteins and downregulates pro-inflammatory genes. This process causes a few effects within the acute and chronic treatment of both inflammation and pruritus. There are some short-term adverse effects that are common, including behavior changes, diarrhea, panting, polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, and more.

Veterinary professionals prescribing these to patients should monitor the patient’s tolerance and reduce to lowest effective dose as well as frequency should be prioritized if GCs are being used in the long-term because of progressive adverse effects. These effects can include cardiovascular workload, immunosuppression, muscle and ligament atrophy, risk of diabetes and pancreatitis, and more. Lancellotti said that these medications are administered to patients by liquid or tablet at 0.5–1.0 mg/kg prednisone/prednisolone equivalent every 24 hours at first. The dose can then be lowered to lowest effective dose and frequency that is maintaining remission of clinical signs in the pet.

 Lancellotti also stated that these medications are not recommended for long term.

For the benefits of GCs, Lancellotti explained that it is rapid acting, effective against edema, can be an inexpensive option for clients, and has that variety of administration options. However, she mentioned some drawbacks for GCs is more frequent changes were observed during monitoring and it interferes with allergy and hormonal testing.

Cyclosporine inhibitors (Atopica; Elanco) leads to a decrease in activation of T cells, and a decrease in proinflammatory cytokines like interferon-α and is used in canines with atopic dermatitis who weigh at least 4lbs. This then leads to a decrease in pruritus and edema in treatment in chronic allergic dermatitis, not acute. When it comes to this treatment, the most common of the short-term adverse effects are gastrointestinal, with less common long-term risks including gingival hyperplasia, opportunistic fungal infections (which are less common at 5 mg/kg dosing), and papillomas.

This type of medication is administered by liquid or capsule at 5 mg/kg once daily for the first 4-6 weeks to determine if clinical sings improve, then the dosing frequency of administration can be reduced to either every other day or twice daily, and the daily dose itself can be decreased. Lancellotti cautioned attendees that when administering cyclosporine concurrently with medications that can affect the cytochrome p450 enzyme system in the liver, it will in result affect the concentration of cyclosporine circulating.

Right up until the end, Lancellotti engaged the room with her keyboard and voice. Her renditions of 'We Will Block You' and other remixed classics helped the audience understand that just like music in our lives, itchy dogs will be in the clinic. By understanding the different types of treatments, helping these patients get better will just be another song and dance.

Lancelloti B Anti-Hero: A Variety of Inflammatory and Antipruritic Medications for Canine Allergic Dermatitis. Presented at: WVC; Las Vegas, Nevada. March 2-5, 2025.

van den Broek A. Muller & Kirk’s Small Animal Dermatology. William Miller Jr, Craig Griffin, Karen Campbell. Saunders-Elsevier, St Louis; 7th Edition, 2013, 938 p; IBSN: 978-1-4160-0028-0, £113. 

. 2013;24(5):559-559. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/vde.12055

Archer TM, Boothe DM, Langston VC, Fellman CL, Lunsford KV, Mackin AJ. Oral cyclosporine treatment in dogs: a review of the literature. J Vet Intern Med. 2014;28(1):1-20. doi:10.1111/jvim.12265

Brittany Lancellotti, DVM, DACVD, broke down the treatments for canine allergic dermatitis, including through song, in her lecture at WVC 2025

Medications for canine allergic dermatitis


A patient with cancer receives chemotherapy at a veterinarian visit.

Canine cancer occurs at about the human rate, and nearly half of all dogs older than 10 years develop the disease.

 Although less is known about the feline cancer rate, some types of the disease are more common in cats including lymphoma.

In an education session at the 2025 WVC conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, Rachel Venable, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology), noted that the prevalence of cancer in dogs is what makes it so important that veterinary teams not only evaluate canine patients and know what to look for but also understand treatment options. In cases where clients decline a referral to a veterinary oncologist, the patient will need treatment from its’ primary practitioner.

There are various reasons why a patient with cancer may not be referred to an oncologist. According to Venable, reasons may be related to client finances or an inability to take time off from work to make an appointment. Lack of access to a specialist can also be an issue, especially for pet owners in certain areas of the US that require traveling a great distance for an appointment.

“Most oncologists are located in major metropolitan areas. So, if you live outside of that, there's actually multiple states that don't even have oncologist,” Venable said. “[And] sometimes it can be an issue when clients just clearly can't get in, or it's a long wait time.”

A barrier to care may also be because many oncologists are so booked up that the specialty clinic requires a definitive diagnosis of cancer to get in to have an appointment. Venable noted that referring clients to an oncologist that offers teleconsulting services may help bridge the gap in access to care.

Still, Venable said, in other cases, a client’s biases or past experiences drive their decision not to seek treatment with an oncologist.

A patient’s treatment plan will depend on a variety of factors. The type of malignant tumor, as well as its’ location, size, grade and stage all factor into treatment decisions.

Overall, Venable said, there are 4 pillars for treating patients with cancer. They include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. “Oral chemotherapy can include drugs such as cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, lomustine and many others,” Venable said. “Oral chemotherapy does not require the same level of administration and handling in USP 800 because compounding of the medication is not required. This means you do not have as high a risk of exposure and only requires gloves for handling.”

Venable also discussed using targeted therapies such as toceranib phosphate (Palladia; Zoetis) and verdinexor tablets (Laverdia-CA1; Dechra) in general practice for treating patients with cancer. Furthermore, medications for pain as well as antibiotics can be administered to these patients.

“A lot of times these are older dogs,” Venable said. “People may not want to do one of those major treatments for various reasons, or it could be something where it's metastasizing everywhere. And so that's something to keep in mind.”

With palliative care, there is emphasis on quality of life and the patient’s comfort. A general practitioner can prescribe therapeutic drugs for helping a patient with nausea control, to stimulate appetite, and as an antidiarrheal, in cases of weight loss and gastrointestinal upset. Venable also suggested adjusting food to make it more bland and easier for the pet to digest.

“For pet owners who do not believe in euthanasia, high doses of morphine or morphine type drugs can be prescribed for their pet,” Venable said. “My experience with pet owners who do not believe in euthanasia, is that they are fine giving these medications to help calm their pets and make the passing more peaceful.”

How a cancer case is resolved depends on many factors including the cancer type, its’ location in the body and the extent of the disease. However, it is important that veterinarians are able to recognize cancer and have some familiarity with available treatment options.

Venable emphasized that there is no right or wrong way answer to managing cancer, and that should be communicated to clients. She noted that they will often feel pressure to make the best decision for their pet, and that a lot of emotion comes with a cancer diagnosis, so communication is key.

“A way to just kind of let them off the hook is to sit and tell them that there's no right or wrong. There's a lot of different options, and it's more important that they understand the expectations,” she said.

Cancer in pets. American Veterinary Medical Association. Accessed March 3, 2025. 

https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/petcare/cancer-pets#:~:text=Approximately%201%20in%204%20dogs,rate%20of%20cancer%20in%20cats

Venable R. Cancer treatment options for primary practitioners. what to do when owners decline referral. Presented at: WVC conference; March 2-5, 2025. Las Vegas, NV.

Rachel Venable, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology) discussed what primary doctors can do to treat their patients with cancer when clients decline specialty care during a WVC 2025 CE session 

Managing cancer in general practice

Integration output customized to an individual patient.

ScribbleVet and LifeLearn have integrated 2 digital services powered by artificial intelligence (AI). ScribbleVet’s veterinary scribe, which generates Subjective Objective Assessment and Plan (SOAP) notes quickly and accurately, and LifeLearn’s Sofie

 a decision support tool that provides immediate answers to pet health questions, will be working together to better assist veterinary teams with SOAP notes. The collaboration allows veterinary practices using ScribbleVet’s service to immediately access to Sofie's differential diagnostics for deep research within the SOAP.

Sofie delivers instant, reliable answers to veterinarians at the point of need, drawing from a vast, searchable library of trusted veterinary medical resources, according to ScribbleVet. While other AI search systems pull from open online sources, Sofie operates within a closed system—providing only evidence-based clinical information that veterinarians rely on daily and have trusted for years.

"The proprietary nature of Sofie's medical content is what sets Sofie apart and supports confidence in ScribbleVet," David Goodnight, DVM, executive vice president of Business Development at LifeLearn, said in the release.

 "Sofie ensures accuracy by sourcing exclusively from proven, authoritative references, setting it apart as a truly dependable AI tool for veterinary professionals."

With the integration, all ScribbleVet users will have access to Sofie's trusted veterinary medical content within their ScribbleVet application to make diagnostic and treatment decisions confidently and efficiently, according to the company.

 ScribbleVet users will be able to record the details of a patient exam, and have their SOAP note generated quickly, while the conversation is filtered to allow only medically relevant details to be included in the created record. In the assessment portion of the SOAP, there will be an option to view additional research compiled by Sofie that is specific for that patient's case.

"According to a recent [American Veterinary Medical Association] survey

, one of the most common concerns about AI adoption among veterinarians is the reliability and accuracy of AI systems," Rohan Relan, CEO of ScribbleVet, said in a news release.

 "We've addressed that concern with the LifeLearn-ScribbleVet partnership. Both companies share a passion for accuracy, so with this integration, we're not only improving speed and efficiency within veterinary practices, but we're also enhancing reliable analysis and better care."

The ScribbleVet-Sofie integration is featured in the exhibit hall at the WVC conference in Las Vegas, Nevada; March 2-5, 2025. Attendees visiting the ScribbleVet booth also have an opportunity to receive an AI-generated portrait of their pet.

ScribbleVet and LifeLearn announce integration between veterinary AI scribe and Sofie decision support tool. News release. February 25, 2025. Accessed March 3, 2025. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/scribblevet-and-lifelearn-announce-integration-between-veterinary-ai-scribe-and-sofie-decision-support-tool-302385006.html

ScribbleVet. Scribblevet.com. Accessed March 3, 2025. 

Sofie. Lifelearn.com. Accessed March 3, 2025. 

https://www.lifelearn.com/products/sofie/

Gabor S, Danylenko G, Voegeli B. Familiarity with artificial intelligence drives optimism and adoption among veterinary professionals: 2024 survey. 

 February 11, 2025. Accessed March 3, 2025. 

A systems integration of ScribbleVet and LifeLearn's Sofie is being demonstrated at WVC 2025.

Two companies are integrating AI-based tools for enhanced SOAP notes

“So the first thing that we have to start off [with] is saying that a dedicated diet trial, today, is necessary for performing a correct diagnosis for a food-allergic dog,” began Galia Sheinberg, DVM, ESP, DLACVD, co-owner and founder of Dermatología Especializada Centro Veterinario Mexico, in Mexico City, in her lecture 

Practical aspects and innovations in diet trial for food allergy diagnosis

, presented at the 2025 WVC Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, as Sheinberg explained, not all “itchy” patients should go on diet trials, and a detailed clinical history could help determine if the patient is a suitable candidate for this test. Among many points she presented in her lecture, Sheinberg shared some common errors that are made by veterinarians relating to diet trials.

According to Sheinberg, one common mistake veterinarians make when it comes to canine patients experiencing pruritus includes recommending a diet trial to each one of these patients, in every circumstance. “We have to understand when it’s really worth recommending a diet trial,” emphasized Sheinberg.

Oftentimes, the patient criteria for starting a diet trial are wrong, explained Sheinberg. “Maybe this dog was never itching before and it’s their first time they’re having issues, and somehow, automatically, they get prescribed or recommended a diet trial,” she continued. “So maybe [for] those dogs [it] was not necessary. …Maybe they had another diagnosis that wasn’t even related to their diet.”

“And most of the patients who are on a specific diet were never challenged, so they believe they’re on the right diet, but they’re still struggling,” said Sheinberg. To address this issue, she explained that taking a thorough clinical history is crucial. For veterinarians or clinics that may not have the time to go through a detailed clinical history with clients, developing a questionnaire or form for clients to fill out before the consultation may offer a solution.

When discussing feeding history with clients, it is important to know not only what the patient is currently eating, but what their diet has been like in the past. Information like whether the patient has been on a hydrolyzed or protein-selected diet, and if it was done correctly, should be discussed.

The fat fecal chart in the patient’s gastrointestinal (GI) history is also important. “Nowadays, as dermatologists, we understand that a lot of our patients have GI disturbances, and [clients] come in and… they don't tell us about it unless we ask. So, we need to know if [patients are] having any GI disturbances at all, how many bowel movements per day they're having, etc.,” explained Sheinberg.

If the patient has been on medication, and how they responded to it, needs to be discussed as well. As Sheinberg explained, some dogs have been on numerous medications, leading to the perception that they have failed every treatment. “But you really need to find out the timeline and the reasoning behind those failures and look at the skin and put everything together to see if the diet even had an opportunity to make a difference,” she emphasized.

Lastly, veterinarians should talk about the patient’s ears with clients, as many pet owners do not know there is a connection between the ear disease and the skin. However, it is important to “ask questions that are at the level of…clients so [that] they can identify the problems and understand what [is being asked].”

“…there's a lot of dogs that will have recurrent ear disease related to food allergies. It can be environmental, of course, but we can miss those if they come in for a skin problem or itching when they're not presenting with ear disease,” said Sheinberg.

Another mistake that Sheinberg has frequently witnessed is having patients undergo a diet trial for the wrong duration of time, whether it be too long or too short. “What I commonly see as a dermatologist…[in]…patients that have undergone a diet [trial] is that the duration of the diet [trial was] wrong,” said Sheinberg. “Maybe they didn't do the diet correctly, but a lot of patients believe they've done a diet trial, but they haven't done it in the right way.”

Because of this, factors relating to owner compliance should be taken into account. These factors include considering whether the home is suitable for the trial (ie., does the home have multiple pets, small children, elderly, owners with inconsistent feeding practices?); whether the owners are willing to change or restrict the dog’s diet; and whether the patient may have access to other food. In these cases, focusing on managing the patient’s symptoms and pursuing an environmental allergy diagnosis may be more appropriate, as a food trial is likely to have a higher failure rate and could result in wasted time, money, and the risk of losing the client.

 For patients who are undergoing a diet trial, careful monitoring throughout the process is essential.

Prior to even beginning a diet trial, veterinarians must carefully assess the patient’s clinical history to determine whether the patient is a suitable candidate for the trial. Moreover, ensuring proper duration of the trial and considering owner compliance can improve the success of diet trials and save time, money, and help keep the client.

To summarize, the following factors are indicators that a diet trial may be appropriate for a patient, according to Sheinberg

Non-seasonal canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) cases with skin issues triggered or aggravated by dietary factors

Young dogs (1 year or younger) presenting with non-seasonal itching, otitis, recurrent pyoderma, Malassezia infections, hot spots, or respiratory symptoms such as sneezing, conjunctivitis, and asthma linked to food consumption

Older dogs that show CAD symptoms later in life, independent of gastrointestinal factors

Patients with recurring otitis after other potential causes have been ruled out

Gastrointestinal markers may comprise recurrent, intermittent or ongoing diarrhea; more than 3 bowel movements per day; grass-eating; belching; borborygmi; vomiting; and gas.

A history of several diet changes in attempts to alleviate GI symptoms or find a diet the dog can tolerate

Sheinberg G. Practical aspects and innovations in diet trial for food allergy diagnosis. Presented at: 2025 WVC Annual Conference; Las Vegas, Nevada. March 2-5, 2025.

What makes a patient a suitable candidate for a diet trial?