Harlan Animal Hospital

Tapeworms:

The tapeworm is a parasite found in the intestines of dogs and cats. It consists of a head and a long flat body made up of  segments.  Segments are passed in the animal's feces, leaving the head attached to the intestine, where it will produce new segments. Tapeworm infestations can cause digestive upsets, poor appetite, poor hair coat and skin and intestinal discomfort. Tapeworms can be diagnosed by finding the segments in your dog's or cat's feces (the segments look like grains of rice) or in  bedding or  around the anus. The eggs do not often show up in a fecal test, but having a fecal test done on your pet's stool is a good idea if you see signs of  tapeworms. It can show if any other parasites are present, so you can get the appropriate medication. Tapeworms use the flea as an "intermediate host", which means that your pet has to swallow a flea to become infected. Medication is very effective, but you must also eliminate fleas from the environment, or your pet may get infected again and again. Tapeworms are not passed from pets to humans