

Dogs can also get a different kind of tapeworm (Taenia spp.) from eating rodents that carry tapeworm larvae (an immature form of the parasite). The most common (Dipylidium caninum) is spread by ingesting a flea. There are a few species of tapeworms that can infect dogs. Treatment involves deworming medication, as well as managing flea and rodent exposure. Unlike many other parasites that dogs can get from exposure to an infected dog’s feces, dogs only become infected with tapeworms by ingesting a flea or rodent carrying a tapeworm. The segments can look like grains of rice, and they are passed through an infected dog's feces, where they may be seen in the stool, the fur around the dog’s anus or in their bedding. They are long, flat and segmented parasites. Tapeworms are a common intestinal parasite that can affect dogs.
