Tapeworms in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms, and How to Treat Them
Key takeaways:
Tapeworms are one of the most common intestinal parasites in dogs.
Tapeworms in dogs are treated with praziquantel, a deworming medication.
The key to effectively preventing tapeworm infections in your dog is year-round flea control.
Access savings on related medications
If you see worms in your dog’s poop, there is a good chance they could be tapeworms. Tapeworms — which are usually contracted through fleas — are common in dogs. But you’ll need to talk to your vet to get the right treatment.
In this article, we will discuss what tapeworms are, how to tell if your dog has tapeworms, and how to treat and prevent them.
What are tapeworms?
Tapeworms, or cestodes, are a type of parasite that can live inside a dog’s intestines. These worms use their mouth to latch onto the lining, or wall, of a dog’s small intestine.
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As tapeworms grow and become adults, they shed small segments of their bodies, which come out in the dog’s stool. Adult tapeworms can grow 4 to 28 inches in length.
Types of tapeworms
There are many different types of tapeworms. By far the most common type of tapeworm dogs get is called Dipylidium caninum — sometimes known as the flea tapeworm or cucumber tapeworm.
Dogs can also get infected with the Taenia species of tapeworm by eating small rodents or rabbits. These tapeworms are much less common in dogs, however.
Even though you’re most likely to encounter flea tapeworms, keep in mind that different types of tapeworms may require different types of treatment.
What causes tapeworms in dogs?
Dogs most often get tapeworms from eating fleas. Fleas are the intermediate host of flea tapeworms. This means the tapeworms must first live inside of fleas before they can be passed to dogs.
When dogs have fleas on their body, they will chew at their skin to relieve the itching. Dogs may end up eating one or more of the fleas when they chew at their skin. This is why your veterinarian may check your dog for fleas if you see tapeworm segments in your dog’s poop.
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What are the symptoms of tapeworm in dogs?
Dogs don’t usually experience any bothersome symptoms with tapeworms. If they do show signs, it will likely be one or more of those listed below.
Tapeworm segments (seeds) in feces
Seeing little tapeworm segments in your dog’s poop is the most common sign they have tapeworms. These segments look like seeds or pieces of white rice. You may also notice segments stuck in the fur around your dog’s anus or dried up white or yellow pieces lying around where your dog sleeps.
Scooting
You might notice your dog scooting their rear end on the floor as a way to relieve itching associated with tapeworm segments. Though, it is important to note that there are other reasons a dog may scoot around on the floor, including full or impacted anal glands.
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Decreased appetite
Your dog may eat some meals and skip others or eat less at mealtime than normal. They may also refuse treats they normally enjoy.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a common condition in dogs and usually not a cause for concern. But if your dog has loose stools along with other symptoms, they may have tapeworms.
Vomiting
Dogs vomit for many reasons, including tapeworms. After tapeworms mature in a dog’s small intestine, a dog may pass them through vomit.
How to treat tapeworms in dogs
Flea tapeworms are only killed by a specific dewormer called praziquantel. Most products containing praziquantel are available by prescription only, which is one reason it’s important to talk to your vet if you suspect your dog has tapeworms.
Praziquantel works by damaging tapeworms’ skin, which causes it to break up. The tapeworms then die and end up in your dog’s poop. You most likely won’t see any of the worms. They tend to get digested along the way and are mixed in with the poop.
Praziquantel can be given to your dog as an injection or in pill form. If you opt for the one-time injection, your vet will give it to your dog underneath their skin, just like a vaccine. Or you can give your dog the pill, which your vet may carry in their clinic, hidden inside a bit of squeeze cheese, peanut butter, or lunch meat.
Over-the-counter tapeworm treatments
Praziquantel for dogs is available without a prescription. But talk to your veterinarian before giving your dog an over-the-counter dewormer. These medications can be dangerous to dogs if they are given incorrectly. And keep in mind that, like all medications designed for dogs, they should never be given to cats.
Are there any home remedies for tapeworms in dogs?
There are currently no home remedies for tapeworms in dogs. The most effective treatments are the dewormer praziquantel, flea preventives, and monthly dewormers that prevent reinfection. Talk to your veterinarian about the right dewormer for your dog.
How do I prevent my dog from getting tapeworms?
Flea prevention is the best way to keep dogs from getting tapeworms. Make sure your dog is on a good flea preventive beginning in the spring and continuing through the end of the fall every year. Some flea prevention treatments need to be given every 30 days. Others can last as long as 8 months.
Flea prevention treatments are available with or without a prescription from your vet. Some over-the-counter flea preventatives have been around for a long time and aren’t as effective as newer treatments. It seems that fleas have built up a resistance to these older treatments, which usually include the ingredient fipronil.
Talk to your vet for advice on the best flea prevention medication for your dog. They may suggest one of these over-the-counter flea preventatives that are known to be effective for dogs:
Advantage II topical medication
Seresto flea and tick collar
Or they may recommend one of these prescription medications for flea prevention:
If your dog has flea allergies or you live in an area with flea issues year-round, keep your dog on flea prevention even during the winter months.
Frequently asked questions
You cannot get flea tapeworms directly from your dog. If you swallow an infected flea, however, there is a chance you could get infected. So avoid eating fleas at all costs — no matter how tasty they may appear!
A dog with tapeworms can be around other dogs. Tapeworms are usually a result of dogs ingesting fleas or rodents that carry tapeworm larvae. They’re not spread from one dog to another.
It’s OK to touch a dog with flea tapeworms since you can’t be directly infected by a dog. You can only get flea tapeworms by swallowing an infected flea, which is highly unlikely.
Tapeworm eggs can live on bedding. A dog can pass tapeworm segments from their anus onto their bedding. These segments typically harden and dry up, but they often release eggs. If fleas ingest the eggs and the dog swallows the infected fleas, they’ll develop tapeworms. That’s why it’s important to treat your dog regularly with a flea preventative and wash their bedding weekly.
Yes, you will need to treat your house to be sure it’s rid of fleas if your dog has tapeworms. Thoroughly wash your pet’s bedding weekly, vacuum rugs and carpets regularly, and clean your floors. Apply an insecticide with insect growth regulator (IGR) as needed.
The bottom line
Dogs get the most common type of tapeworm, Dipylidium caninum, by eating infected fleas. So the best way to prevent tapeworm infections is to keep your dog on a good flea prevention treatment.
If your dog does end up with tapeworms, there’s no need to fret. Even though they can be a nuisance, tapeworms don’t usually cause dogs to get sick. And they are easily treatable.
If you suspect your dog has tapeworms, talk to your vet. They can recommend a product with the ingredient praziquantel to effectively get rid of the tapeworms.
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References
Brooks, W. (2023). Tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum) in dogs and cats. Veterinary Partner.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). About dog or cat tapeworm infection.
Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center. (n.d.). Tapeworms.
DPDx. (2019). Dipylidium caninum. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria.
Elanco US. (2022). Tapeworm Dewormer for Dogs - praziquantel tablet [package insert]. DailyMed.
Jiang, P., et al. (2017). A human case of zoonotic dog tapeworm, Dipylidium caninum (Eucestoda: Dilepidiidae), in China. The Korean Journal of Parasitology.
Mississippi State University Extension. (2023). Control fleas on your pet, in your house, and in your yard.
