tapeworms in dogs and cats: signs, spread, and treatment

Tapeworms are flat intestinal worms that can infect dogs and cats. The telltale sign is often small, rice-like segments near your pet’s tail, in their stool, or on their bedding. These segments are pieces of the worm that have broken off and passed out of the body.

Pets most often get the common flea tapeworm by swallowing an infected flea while grooming. Other tapeworms spread when pets eat infected prey, such as rodents or rabbits, or scavenge infected animal flesh.

Routine fecal exams can miss tapeworms because the parasite’s eggs are released sporadically. What an owner sees is what usually leads to the diagnosis, and treatment is a dewormer that specifically covers this type of worm, cestodes.

If you notice rice-like pieces around your pet’s rear or in their stool, know that this is a manageable and common issue. Bring a photo or fresh stool sample to your next vet visit, and ask about flea prevention to help keep the tapeworm from coming back. Get a pet parasite check

What do tapeworm segments look like?

Fresh tapeworm segments are small, flat, and white or cream-colored, resembling grains of rice. They sometimes move or stretch, which makes them easier to spot. Once dried, segments harden into small yellowish grains that look more like sesame seeds. These are often stuck in the fur near the tail or left behind on bedding and furniture.

Tapeworms are easy to tell apart from another common parasite, roundworms. Roundworms are long, round, and spaghetti-like, quite different from the flat rice-grain segments of a tapeworm. Read more about roundworms

If you spot something suspicious, save a segment in a sealed bag or take a clear photo to show your veterinary team. Segments pass intermittently, so not seeing any for a few days doesn't mean the infection has cleared.

How do pets get tapeworms?

Dogs and cats can get tapeworms in different ways, depending on the type of tapeworm.

Flea tapeworms: swallowing an infected flea

The common flea tapeworm, Dipylidium caninum, has a life cycle that involves fleas and sometimes chewing lice. Flea larvae can swallow tapeworm eggs in the environment, and the parasite develops inside the flea as it matures.

When a dog or cat grooms and accidentally swallows an infected flea, the tapeworm can develop into an adult in the pet’s intestine. Less commonly, an infected chewing louse can be the host instead of a flea.

This means pets don’t catch the flea tapeworm simply by touching or playing with another infected pet. They become infected by swallowing an infected flea. Your pet also doesn’t need to have an obvious flea infestation. Swallowing even one infected flea can be enough to transmit the parasite.

Prey-borne tapeworms: eating an infected animal

A separate type of tapeworms is acquired when pets eat infected prey or animals. Depending on the tapeworm species, sources can include rodents, rabbits, and other small animals. Dogs and cats may also be exposed by scavenging carrion or eating raw meat that has tapeworms.

Flea prevention helps prevent flea tapeworms, but it does not prevent tapeworms acquired by eating infected prey. Pets that hunt, roam, or scavenge may need additional prevention guidance from their veterinarian.

Uncomplicated infections tend to cause fewer obvious symptoms. A heavy tapeworm infection may cause digestive upset, particularly in very young or small pets. If your dog or cat seems unwell, don’t assume tapeworms are the only possible cause.

Learn about other possible parasite-related signs in dogs and cats:

Dog parasite symptoms

Cat parasite symptoms

How are tapeworms diagnosed and treated?

Tapeworms are most often diagnosed when a pet owner spots signs of them in stool, and the parasite is treated using a dewormer.

Tapeworms are often diagnosed from the segments a pet owner sees or reports. Routine fecal exams can miss the common flea tapeworm because segments and eggs may be unevenly distributed in a stool sample. The eggs also don’t readily float during standard fecal flotation tests. That means a negative fecal test does not rule out a flea tapeworm infection. This can surprise owners who expect a routine stool test to detect every intestinal parasite.

If you’ve seen rice-like segments, tell your veterinary team — even if a recent fecal test was negative. A photo or saved segment can help the team identify what you found and decide whether additional testing is needed.

Tapeworms are treated with a dewormer that targets cestodes. Depending on the medication and your pet’s needs, treatment may be given as a tablet or an injection. Some commonly used broad-spectrum dewormers don’t cover tapeworms, so consult with your veterinarian on the right one.

After treatment, the tapeworm is broken down in the intestine, so you usually won’t see the whole worm passed in your pet’s stool. Your veterinarian will let you know whether follow-up treatment or testing is needed.

If you’re wondering how to get rid of tapeworms in your cat, the approach is similar: your veterinarian identifies the likely parasite and selects a cat-appropriate medication that treats tapeworms. Don’t use a dog medication on your cat.

If the pet has a flea problem, the treatment plan needs to address that source as well as the tapeworm. Otherwise, your pet may swallow another infected flea and become infected again.

How do I prevent tapeworms?

The best way to prevent the common flea tapeworm is to use vet-recommended year-round flea prevention for every pet in your household. Consistent flea control reduces the chance that your pet will swallow an infected flea.

If you’re dealing with an active flea problem, treating the home environment is also important. Beyond the fleas on your pet, your home and yard can contain eggs, larvae, or pupae. Learn more about getting fleas out of your home

Keep in mind that flea prevention doesn’t protect against prey-borne tapeworms. To reduce those risks:

• Limit hunting and access to rodents, rabbits, and other potential prey.
• Prevent scavenging of dead animals or animal remains.
• Don’t feed raw meat unless you’ve discussed the parasite risks and appropriate precautions with your veterinarian.

Never use a dog flea product on a cat. Some flea-control ingredients used in dog products can be toxic to cats. Ask your veterinarian which product is safe for each pet in your home.

Make flea control more affordable with Optimum Wellness Plans^®, which gives you a discount on parasite prevention. Explore OWPs

Can people get tapeworms from pets?

The common flea tapeworm rarely infects people. Getting it requires swallowing an infected flea, not simply touching an infected pet, which makes transmission unlikely. The small number of reported human cases are mostly in young children, who are more likely to put things in their mouths.

A different, less common tapeworm called Echinococcus is more serious in people, though it too is uncommon. A person is infected by swallowing eggs shed by an infected animal, not by swallowing a flea.

Practical steps to reduce exposure include:

• Wash hands after handling pet waste or cleaning litter boxes.
• Pick up dog stool promptly and dispose of it safely.
• Use year-round flea prevention for pets.
• Follow your veterinary team’s guidance if your pet is diagnosed with a tapeworm.

If you’re concerned about possible human exposure or have symptoms, contact a physician for advice.

Tapeworm FAQs

When to contact your veterinary team

Contact your veterinary team if you notice:

• rice-like segments near your pet’s tail, in their stool, or on bedding
• scooting or persistent licking or biting around the rear
• a flea problem that keeps returning

An exam can help confirm what you’re seeing and make sure your pet gets the right dewormer, since not all products treat tapeworms. Your veterinary team can also help set up flea prevention to reduce the chance of reinfection.

Tapeworms rarely cause a crisis, but collapse, severe weakness, repeated vomiting with a bloated or painful abdomen, or pale gums require immediate care at the nearest emergency animal hospital, whatever the cause.

Important Notice: The information provided on this page is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Always consult a veterinarian with any questions regarding your pet's health or medical condition. Never disregard or delay seeking professional veterinary advice based on information from this page.