I pulled a white fleshy string out of a bump on my dogs chest

Ick... Could be a worm... Definitely schedule a visit to the vet... If you still have the "thing" be sure to put it in a plastic bag and take it with you... If the scolex is still inside your dog then it will just grow again...

It looked like a big white head and I picked at it and pulled about a inch long string out of the boil it didn't seem to bother him and I squeezed it until a little blood came out the string didn't move I don't think it was a worm but it could be

First, it is not advisable to "pick" at anything including some sort of "big white head" on you OR your dog. The possibility of infection is frightening. Was it a boil or a white head? You say it was both. I'd take the dog to a Vet - without examining the dog there is no way to know.

You also have to take precautions against infection and the Vet is the best source of info.

ick... Could be a worm... Definitely schedule a visit to the vet... If you still have the "thing" be sure to put it in a plastic bag and take it with you... If the scolex is still inside your dog then it will just grow again...

I believe the scolex is the head of a tapeworm - a tapeworm would not appear on a dog's chest.

Two threads, same question, different circumstances.

Oops... I meant to put "scolex (head)" Worms can appear anywhere really... True, tapeworms are most common in the digestive system, but that doesn't mean that it is not a worm... And actually any and all worms have a scolex, not just Tapeworms... And, what was the second question?

Anyway, it is still 100% advisable that you go to the vet... :)

It just look red now but there is still a bump like a boil. It doesn't seem to bother him he is a visla great pheasant hunting dog he has been hunting a lot lately just thought he got poked with a stick

Oops... I meant to put "scolex (head)" Worms can appear anywhere really... True, tapeworms are most common in the digestive system, but that doesn't mean that it is not a worm... And actually any and all worms have a scolex, not just Tapeworms... And, what was the second question?

Anyways, it is still 100% advisable that you go to the vet... :)


I can't find your source - all I find is tapeworms and intestines: "Scolex - The knoblike anterior end of a tapeworm, having suckers or hooklike parts that in the adult stage serve as organs of attachment to the host on which the tapeworm is parasitic." scolex; - definition of scolex; by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia. (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/scolex;) "the head of a tapeworm, provided with hooks or suckers and acting as a holdfast in the intestine of a host" scolex - Definition with thesaurus, examples, audio and more. (http://www.yourdictionary.com/scolex).

Would you post your source?

OP has a second thread started on the same subject, same question. That's what I meant.

Could be a cyst of some sort, only real way to know exactly what it is to have a vet take a look.

Scolex is the anterior end of a tapeworm that contains the teeth used in attaching to the intestine. Very seldom is it seen, even when tape worming an animal. Thoughts are that it disintegrates when the worm dies and is passed.

There is a cutaneous worm that presents in a very similar if not exact way as this. It is called Dracunculus insignis, and is a Guinea worm larvae. More often it is located on the face, but always creates quite a stir when someone finds one on their dog.

Here is a link to that worm, for help in your ID.

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10370_12150_12220-27119--,00.html

Double oops... My source was a wikipedia page for "Cestoda" which is a class of flat/tape worm. I skipped the first paragraph or so and just read something to the effect of "worms have a distinct scolex at one end... etc"

However, my main idea should still be relevant, worms can regrow, so if there is still a bit of a worm inside the boil or contusion or w/e then there is a chance that the worm will return...

This is all still speculating that it is a worm of some sort. Some classes of worms do live in the bodies of animals rather than the digestive tract, again from wikipedia on a general page about worms (all types... )

And once again, a trip to the vet is your best option...

If your main idea is that worms can 'regrow', it is totally irrelevant. Worms DO NOT regrow from remainder pieces, regardless of information to the contrary from Wikipedia.

This is a larva of the organism I described previously, and due to it's reproductive cycle in water, it is most commonly found on, or in, the skin of the chest or legs of it's hosts.

Double oops... My source was a wikipedia page for "Cestoda" which is a class of flat/tape worm. I skipped the first paragraph or so and just read something to the effect of "worms have a distinct scolex at one end... etc"

However, my main idea should still be relevant, worms can regrow, so if there is still a bit of a worm inside the boil or contusion or w/e then there is a chance that the worm will return...

This is all still speculating that it is a worm of some sort. Some classes of worms do live in the bodies of animals rather than the digestive tract, again from wikipedia on a general page about worms (all types...)

And once again, a trip to the vet is your best option...


Another good reason Wikipedia is not a good source - my expertise is legal and I don't trust Wikipedia.

However, sometimes it's better to simply admit you made a mistake and move on rather than continue a losing argument which takes up time and space.

Okay, so I shouldn't have said "a bit", I should have said "the 'head' "

And while I realize that it isn't or might not be a worm, I was giving a possible answer. That is what this site is for. For other people to answer other peoples questions. I gave my opinion that it could be a worm and that if it is a worm then a visit to the vet was in order to ensure that the entire worm was removed to prevent any possible regrowth.

Now, I have read other people's answers and agree that it may not be, heck, probably isn't a worm. But the OP hasn't confirmed whether they have taken the dog to a vet to see exactly what it is/was. Until there is another response from the OP it is still up for speculation as to what the thing may be.

On to your distrust of wikipedia. Okay, I understand it. I however trust a lot of the info on the site. I passed a test on cancer after looking through a wikipedia page... I get that it can be edited by anybody, but in my experience it is fairly trustworthy...

I will not admit to being wrong because if you look at my first post you will see that I clearly said that it "might be a worm". I continued to post saying that "if it is a worm, then you need to make sure the scolex was removed" this isn't verbatim, but it is fairly obvious about what I was saying... Could be, may be, might be, etc... Thanks for thinking before telling me to admit to being wrong again. :)

This site is for people to ACCURATELY answer other people's questions.

This bickering back and forth is not helpful to the OP - and that is what this site is for, helpful information.

Your attitude on AMHD is way out of line. I suggest you read the rules. No one is trying to make you look "dumb." https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/hard-drives/file-recovery-500-gb-wd-external-overheating-598246.html

I suggest that a moderator close this thread.

Please do not continue to explain/defend yourself by PM to me. If you can't post it on the Board don't send it to me privately.

Thread closed, tomnoodles if you would like to add more information please private message me and I can re-open it for you.