How to Get Rid of Tapeworms in Dogs

Susan is a published poet and short story writer. Her expertise is in cooking
and healthy living. She hosts a canine recipe blog.

Tapeworm: diphyl proglottide,

Department of Health and Human Services, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Tapeworms in Dogs

Tapeworms are a serious problem for dogs and people alike. It’s important for
pet owners to keep a lookout for them. But what should you look for? This
article will explore everything you need to know about the topic.

What You Should Know

What is a tapeworm?
How do you get rid of them in dogs?
What does a tapeworm look like?
What are the symptoms of tapeworms in dogs?
How do I identify them?
What to do if you think your dog has them.
How to prevent them from returning.
What over-the-counter medications help.

What Is a Tapeworm?

The most common tapeworm, also known as Dipylidium caninum , is a small
parasite that is carried by fleas and lice that have ingested a tapeworm egg.
If the dog ingests the flea or louse by swallowing or bitting it, and if it is
infected with a tapeworm egg, it will travel down into the dog’s small
intestine.

Tapeworms are very common in adult dogs and puppies but can be treated easily
by your veterinarian.

How Do You Get Rid of Them in Dogs?

To get rid of tapeworms, the head of the tapeworm must be destroyed,
otherwise, it will keep growing. In order to do this, you must have a
prescription medication from a veterinarian. An over-the-counter dewormer will
not necessarily work for all tapeworms. It is always best to check with your
animal-care provider first.

For the dog to be totally rid of the tapeworms and all eggs, it normally takes
10-14 days.

What Does a Tapeworm Look Like?

Tapeworms are whitish in color and can grow anywhere between 4 inches to 28
inches in length. They are flat and segmented. Each segment contains eggs.

Symptoms of Tapeworms in Dogs

The dog may be experiencing anal itching
Excessive licking or scratching in the rectal area
A dog may drag its behind along the ground or on the carpet
Change in a dog’s eating habits
Vomiting
In some cases, the dog may be experiencing stomach pain
The dog may not be as active as they usually are

Visual Identification

The eggs from the tapeworms can be found in the dog’s stool. They will be
about one-quarter of an inch long and they move. These eggs can or may be
found in the dog’s fur near the anus. If the eggs are dead and dried out, they
will look very similar to a piece of rice. Eggs or pieces of the tapeworm may
also be found in the dog’s bedding or on carpets.

What to Do If You Think Your Dog Has An Infection

To determine what type of worm your dog may have, you need to take a sample of
the dog’s stool to the veterinarian to have it analyzed under a microscope.
Never use an over-the-counter de-wormer without first talking to your vet.

If your dog does, in fact, have tapeworms, it is very important to get them
treated as soon as possible. Tapeworms can and will grow quite quickly. If
left untreated, they can cause intestinal infection, diarrhea, weight loss
and/or blood in the stool.

The vet will either give your dog an injection or a medication in pill form to
treat the tapeworms.

Preventing Them From Returning

There is no way to make sure that tapeworms never return, but there are some
precautions that you can take.

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Flea Control

Make sure that your animal and house are free of fleas.
In your yard and outside areas, there are various ways to keep the flea population to a minimum. You can purchase products from garden centers or Home Depot, but be sure to read the packaging to make sure that it is safe for your pets.
Planting mint plants may deter fleas.
Fecal matter in your yard should always be picked up.

Over-the-Counter Medications

Once your dog has had tapeworms and you know what you’re dealing with as far
as what they look like and feel comfortable treating them yourself, there are
over-the-counter medications that are available. Be certain that the
medication you choose is for tapeworms. Always consult with your veterinarian
before administering a medication to your dog.

D-Worm, Droncit and WormXPlus are three of the products you can purchase
without a medical prescription. Make sure that your dog and its living
quarters are free of all fleas to stop the tapeworms from reoccurring.

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It
is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription,
or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional.
Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a
veterinarian immediately.

Comments

Susan Zutautas (author) from Ontario, Canada on May 27, 2012:

tillsontitan, When I was growing up we had an Irish Setter that came to us
with tapeworms. After a trip to the vet’s and a prescription, the tapeworms
were gone.

Mary Craig from New York on May 27, 2012:

Another good hub on dogs. Though not as common as it used to be tapeworm can
still be a problem in dogs. Your explanation should help people who haven’t
encountered this horrible little worm yet. Voted up and useful.

Sharon Smith from Northeast Ohio USA on May 26, 2012:

Great research and advice. I had a problem years ago with tapeworms in newborn
cats. But that is common and remedied pretty quickly. I’m sure many will find
this information very helpful!

Susan Zutautas (author) from Ontario, Canada on May 05, 2012:

Jimmy, Thanks. It is funny to see a dog do this, until you realize why they’re
doing it 🙂

Susan Zutautas (author) from Ontario, Canada on May 05, 2012:

Sue, Thank you.

Deborah, Yes tapeworms are UGH 🙂 Thanks 🙂

Jimmy the jock from Scotland on May 05, 2012:

Great Information Susan Thanks for sharing, I used to laugh when I saw my dog
dragging his butt along the floor until i was told how serious it
was…..jimmy

Deborah Brooks Langford from Brownsville,TX on May 05, 2012:

this is great information and useful.. I hate tapeworms.. UGH!! thanks for
keeping us updated

Debbie

Sueswan on May 04, 2012:

Hi Susan,

Great information on tapeworms. Thanks for sharing.

Voted up and awesome.

Take care 🙂

Susan Zutautas (author) from Ontario, Canada on May 04, 2012:

Natasha, It is kind of gross. Thanks for reading and for your comments.

Natasha from Hawaii on May 04, 2012:

I have dogs, but I had no idea that fleas are a factor in a dog getting
tapeworms and that each worm segment has eggs! That is kind of horrifying to
contemplate. Thanks for the great information.

Susan Zutautas (author) from Ontario, Canada on May 04, 2012:

Thank you Tina.

Alicia, Thanks.

Linda Crampton from British Columbia, Canada on May 03, 2012:

Thank you for sharing the useful information about a very important topic for
pet owners, Susan.

Christina Lornemark from Sweden on May 03, 2012:

Very informative article and it is good to be prepared! Since I have had both
cats and dogs at the same time I had to treat them all for tapeworm. It is a
good thing that there is a cure that is pretty easy to get and give! Excellent
article Susan,

Tina