Why Rodents (Not Fleas) Are Your Dog’s Real Tapeworm Threat

Quick Take

• Flea prevention medication won't protect your dog from the tapeworm species that's quietly spreading across the United States, and most owners have no idea why. See prevention gaps →
• One tapeworm species your dog can carry has no visible symptoms for months, and if caught too late it can be fatal to both dogs and humans. Understand the silent threat →
• Your dog's outdoor habits could put you at personal risk of a parasite infection, and the transmission route is not what you would expect. See the transmission route →
• Farm dogs and dogs that chase wildlife face a tapeworm threat that routine vet visits can easily miss, and avoiding that outcome depends on owners asking the right question. Know the farm dog risk →

Tapeworms are a parasite that dog owners would like to ensure their furry friends are not exposed to. To keep dogs safe from tapeworms, over-the-counter medications have been considered the gold standard.

While these medications prevent fleas from transmitting tapeworms, there is another dog tapeworm risk that most owners do not think about. That risk comes from direct contact with the tapeworm.

Dogs With Access to Rodents and Farm Animals Contribute to Tapeworm Spread

Pet parents have been taught that fleas are the culprits of tapeworms in dogs. This is why over-the-counter flea control is so important. However, less well-known is that dogs can contract infections from rodents, other small mammals, and even livestock. It is becoming increasingly important to be aware of this information, due to the continued spread of the tapeworm species Echinococcus.

Dogs that chase and catch rodents and other small mammals are especially susceptible to Echinococcus tapeworms. These tapeworms create cancer-like cysts in the host animal’s body. When dogs eat a small animal (and the cysts), the tapeworms are transferred. This occurs even if the dog is on flea prevention medication, as the parasite is directly consumed.

Working farm dogs are exposed to Echinococcus tapeworms. This can be either directly from ingesting meat from infected cattle, sheep, pigs, and the like who have died of natural causes or are slaughtered, or from infected wildlife that comes onto the property.

This particular species is concerning due to its potential to be deadly if left untreated. With symptoms not presenting for months to years after the initial infection, there may be no signs of infection. Consequently, for those who have working farm dogs or dogs that tend to spend a lot of time unsupervised in nature, it is recommended to test their stool for infection twice per year.

How Humans Contract Tapeworms from Their Dogs

While dog owners are often highly aware that their pups can contract tapeworms, many people don’t realize that they can contract tapeworms from their dogs. While rare, it does occur, with some species being more dangerous to people than others.

The main way that people become infected with tapeworms from their dogs is through fecal-oral contact. This occurs after cleaning up feces containing tapeworm segments or eggs or digging in dirt with tapeworm eggs. Those who fail to properly wash their hands after these activities can get tapeworm by touching their mouths or eating.

The most common tapeworm species transmitted is Dipylidium caninum. Infection causes stomach discomfort and nausea, and bits of the tapeworm also appear in the stool. Treatment is straightforward with a one-dose oral medication that completely kills the tapeworm within six weeks.

The Echinococcus tapeworm species that can pass to humans from dogs is life-threatening. This is because the tapeworms cause cancer-like cysts in the body that can lead to organ failure and long-term health effects.

Up until 15 years ago, this parasite was not found in the United States. Since then, it has been spreading both northward and eastward, with the first confirmed animal cases recently discovered in the Pacific Northwest. Prevention of any and all tapeworm infections is now more important than ever.

Signs a Dog Has Tapeworms

To determine if a dog has tapeworms, there are some fairly obvious, tell-tale signs owners can look for.

Signs that a dog has an active tapeworm infection include:

• Rice-like bits of the tapeworm in stool, vomit, or near the anus
• Consistent licking or biting of the rear end or tail
• Unexplained weight loss, even when the dog is eating normally
• Vomiting or diarrhea

If it is clear that a dog has tapeworms, or if they are suspected, a trip to the vet is warranted to begin treatment.

What Tapeworm Treatment Looks Like

If a dog consumes an animal infected with tapeworms, ingests tapeworm eggs, or eats an infected flea, it will develop tapeworms in the small intestine. Worse still, if a dog ingests the Echinococcus species, it can become riddled with cancer-like cysts. This particular tapeworm leads to death if not treated.

At the first sign of tapeworms, dogs should be taken to the vet. This will determine the severity of the infection and provide the dog with treatment to kill the tapeworms. Treatment for tapeworms involves the following:

• Deworming medication in the form of a pill, injection, or topical medication
• Monthly flea control

Fortunately, tapeworm treatment is fairly straightforward. If caught early enough, even Echinococcus tapeworms can be treated with deworming medication. However, for dogs with cysts, surgery may be necessary in conjunction with deworming medications.

How Do You Prevent the Spread of Tapeworms?

Preventing the spread of tapeworms means prevention for both dogs and their owners. Without a combined effort, tapeworm exposure is possible, meaning there is an opportunity for canines or their owners to become ill.

The best way to prevent dogs from tapeworm infection includes:

• Over-the-counter flea treatments to control fleas
• Limiting exposure to wildlife
• Supervising dogs during outdoor play times
• Picking up dog feces immediately
• Regular vet checkups with stool sample analysis
• Not feeding dogs undercooked or raw meat

Limiting dogs’ exposure to tapeworms or their eggs is the best way to prevent infections. However, people can also make healthy choices to further reduce the risk of exposure to tapeworms. Those choices are as follows:

• Wash hands with soap and water after cleaning up dog feces, working in soil, petting or playing with pets, and before handling food
• Keep fingernails clean
• Cook meat thoroughly
• Wash fruits and vegetables before eating

Following these steps goes a long way toward preventing exposure to and the spread of tapeworms. With the Echinococcus species spreading through the United States via wildlife at an alarming rate, now is the time to be vigilant about these nasty parasites.