The flea is the intermediate host in the cycle of transmission of tapeworm s, which means that your dog will not become infected by simply eating poop that contains proglottid packets with fertilized tapeworm eggs. This can happen during grooming if they lick their fur and accidentally eat an infected flea. What Causes Tapeworm s in Dogs and Puppies?ĭogs get tapeworms when they ingest fleas that are infected with the tapeworm larvae. Tapeworm eggs can be seen in fecal samples through a microscope, but their absence in a fecal sample does NOT necessarily mean that the dog is negative for tapeworms, as the expulsion of proglottid packets is unpredictable. The proglottid packets contain the tapeworm eggs, which are not visible to the naked eye. The proglottid segments may also be visible on or in freshly passed feces, again resembling grains of white rice or sesame seeds. After they dry out, they may resemble dried grains of rice attached to the fur around the anus and under the tail. Tapeworm proglottids may often be seen “wiggling” around the anal opening as they exit the intestinal tract. Your dog might experience weight loss if he is heavily infected, and on occasion, dogs with heavy adult parasite burdens have vomited whole tapeworms that were dislodged during the act of vomiting. You may also notice anal irritation if your dog is scooting excessively. When that happens, you may see what looks like a small piece of rice around your dog’s anus or in their poop. This occurs as the proglottid segments break away from the adult tapeworm in the intestine and migrate through the anal opening. Typically, you may notice your dog licking or biting at his anus or scooting along the ground due to an itching sensation. There are not many obvious symptoms of tapeworm infestation in either puppies or adult dogs. What Are the Symptoms of a Dog With Tapeworms? The most common species of tapeworms in dogs is Dipylidium caninum. There are several common tapeworm species in the cestode family of worms that can affect dogs, including: They almost look like a piece of rice to the human eye. These worms are typically flat and segmented, and each segment is called a proglottid. Tapeworms are just one type of intestinal parasite that can affect dogs.

Dog has large flat worms in poop