How to Prevent Tapeworms in Dogs

Tapeworms (Diplyidium caninum) are segmented intestinal worms that are carried by fleas.^{[1]XResearch source} A common way for a dog to get tapeworms is to swallow infected fleas that land on his skin. Although tapeworms are unlikely to make your dog sick, it is important for you to prevent him from getting tapeworms. The key to prevention is keeping your dog and your home flea free.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Administering Preventative Medicines to Your Dog

1
Discuss dewormers with your veterinarian. Preventative deworming medications can help to keep your dog worm-free, so make sure that you talk to your dog’s veterinarian about deworming medications as soon as possible. Make sure that you mention your concerns about tapeworms. Your veterinarian will need to prescribe a deworming medication for your dog that is especially for tapeworms, such as one that contains praziquantel.
- Although tapeworms are rare in puppies, keep in mind that puppies cannot have medication for tapeworms until they are about eight weeks old. The medication a puppy would receive for tapeworms is a single dose medication.
- You may also need to provide your veterinarian with stool samples from you dog once or twice per year to ensure that your dog is worm-free.
2
Administer a deworming medication. Deworming medications often come in the form of a chewable tablet that you will need to give to your dog. You can give the medicine to your dog inside of a pill pocket or mixed in with a little wet food.
- Follow your veterinarian’s instructions for how and when to administer the dewormer.
- Do not skip any doses or give more than the recommended dosage.
3
Discuss flea preventative medications with your veterinarian. Flea preventatives are one of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent tapeworms. Many types of flea preventatives are available through your veterinarian. He or she will be able to prescribe the one that will work best for your dog.
- Flea preventatives work by killing adult fleas and/or controlling flea development. Some preventatives also prevent heartworms, and kill ticks and mosquitos.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Controlling flea development stops the flea reproductive cycle and reduces the flea population over time.^{[3]XResearch source}
- Over the counter flea control medications are also available, but are not as effective as prescription preventatives.^{[4]XResearch source}
4
Give your dog a flea preventative. Once your veterinarian has prescribed a flea preventative for your dog, administer it once a month according to the product’s instructions. For example, if you are using a topical preventative such as Advantix, you would apply it to the skin between the shoulder blades to prevent your dog from licking it off. Do not bathe him for a few days after application to make sure the medication is fully absorbed into his skin.^{[5]XResearch source}
- Apply the flea preventative year round. Although your dog is not at high risk of tapeworms in the winter, you may forget to start giving the preventative again when the weather warms up.
- Talk with your veterinarian if you are unsure about how to administer the flea preventative.
5
Consider using non-prescription or natural flea preventatives. Examples of non-prescription flea preventatives are flea shampoos, flea powders, and flea sprays. Since these products may not be as effective as prescription preventatives, talk with your veterinarian before using them.^{[6]XResearch source}
- If you want to use natural products, look for flea powders and flea sprays that contain essential oils (repel fleas) and/or diatomaceous earth (seals off pores that fleas breathe through). Make sure they do not contain insecticides. Be mindful that essential oils dry quickly, making frequent application necessary.^{[7]XResearch source}
- Be aware that natural products (e.g., peppermint, lemongrass, cedarwood) have not been scientifically proven as effective for flea control, and may cause allergies in pets and people.^{[8]XTrustworthy SourceNational Resources Defence CouncilMultinational environmental advocacy group focused on grassroots activism and legislative actionGo to source}
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Cleaning Your Home

1
Vacuum frequently. The second component to tapeworm prevention is keeping a flea-free home environment. Frequent vacuuming is a great way to do this. Aim to vacuum once a day or every other day, focusing on areas where fleas are most likely to populate (e.g., carpets, rugs, crevices around baseboards). Vacuuming will kill the flea larvae, pick up the adults, and stimulate the still-developing adults to come out of their cocoons.^{[9]XTrustworthy SourceUniversity of California Integrated Pest Management ProgramResearch-based pest management program run by the University of California's Cooperative ExtensionGo to source}
- Consider sprinkling borax (sodium borate) on your carpet the night before you vacuum. Borax is a nontoxic product that suffocates fleas and makes them easier to vacuum.^{[10]XResearch source} Look for borax at your local home improvement store and follow the label instructions.
- You could also steam clean your carpet to kill the flea larvae.^{[11]XResearch source}
- Throw away the vacuum bag (or empty the plastic container on a bagless vacuum) each time you vacuum.^{[12]XResearch source}
2
Wash your dog’s bedding regularly. Keeping your dog’s bedding clean is another effective way of preventing tapeworms. Wash the bedding weekly in hot, soapy water.^{[13]XTrustworthy SourceNational Resources Defence CouncilMultinational environmental advocacy group focused on grassroots activism and legislative actionGo to source} If you prefer, take the bedding to a local laundromat rather than washing it at home.
- If your dog has an outdoor doghouse, remember to clean the bedding in the doghouse as well.
3
Clean and disinfect your dog’s food and water bowls every day. Fleas may not be around your dog’s food and water bowls, but keeping them clean is another aspect of general house cleaning. If you want to wash the bowls by hand, a mild, nontoxic handwashing detergent and pet-safe disinfectant are good products to use.^{[14]XResearch source}^{[15]XResearch source}
- If you would rather place the bowls in the dishwasher, use the hottest temperature setting (140 degrees F/60 degrees C) to make sure all bacteria is killed.^{[16]XResearch source}
4
Spray insecticides inside and outside of your home. If you live in a region with heavy flea infestations, you may also want to use insecticides to prevent tapeworms in your dog. Insecticides usually contain an insect growth regulator (e.g., methoprene, pyriproxyfen) to kill pre-adult fleas.^{[17]XResearch source} Inside your home, spray in areas where your dog frequents, such as near his bed and any furniture he lies on. In your yard, spray in dark and shaded areas, as well as around and inside your dog’s doghouse.^{[18]XResearch source}
- Some ingredients in insecticides can be toxic to wildlife, so talk with your veterinarian before using an insecticide.
- If you don’t live in an area that’s prone to flea infestations, you may not need to use an insecticide.
5
Call an extermination company. If you cannot do environmental flea control on your own, consider calling a professional extermination company to kill the fleas around your home. Ask your friends or neighbors for recommendations on good companies, and call each one to get a cost estimate.^{[19]XResearch source}
- Since rodents and other wild animals can harbor fleas, ask the exterminator if they can use products to keep other animals out of your yard.
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Using Additional Tapeworm Prevention Strategies

1
Dispose of your dog’s feces properly. Within a dog’s intestine, tapeworm segments break off and exit the body through the feces. Each tapeworm segment contains eggs that are released from the segment when it dries.^{[20]XResearch source} If your dog currently has a tapeworms, you can prevent a reinfection by properly disposing of his feces.
- After your dog defecates, pick up his feces in a plastic bag and throw the bag away.^{[21]XTrustworthy SourceAmerican Kennel ClubThe American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.Go to source} Invert the bag to prevent your hand from directly contacting the feces.
- Wash your hands with soap and water after throwing away the feces.^{[22]XResearch source}
2
Block your dog’s access to garbage and dead animals. If your dog is a scavenger or likes to hunt, you will need to keep him away from garbage and dead animals, both of which can harbor fleas.^{[23]XTrustworthy SourceAmerican Kennel ClubThe American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.Go to source} Commercially available deterrent devices (e.g., motion-activated mousetrap-like device) are effective at keeping your dog out of the trash, especially if he likes to snoop through it when you’re not around.^{[24]XTrustworthy SourceAmerican Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsLeading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal crueltyGo to source}
- Keeping him away from dead animals may require you to closely supervise him in your yard and when you walk him.
- Garbage and dead animals can carry the Taenia species of tapeworms.^{[25]XResearch source}
Raw meat can be a source of the Taenia species of tapeworms. Feed your dog only commercial dog foods, which will not have raw meat.^{[26]XResearch source}
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Tips

Carpet cleaning, although effective, may not kill all of the fleas.^{[27]XResearch source} You may need to use an insecticide to kill the remaining fleas.
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If you have a garden, consider using nontoxic nematodes (small worms), which eat flea larvae.^{[28]XResearch source} Inquire about these at your local gardening store.
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If your dog develops a tapeworm infection, you will not get the infection from your dog. The only way you can get a tapeworm infection is if you accidentally swallow an infected flea.^{[29]XResearch source}
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Warnings

Flea collars can contain very toxic chemicals (e.g., carbaryl, propoxur).^{[30]XTrustworthy SourceNational Resources Defence CouncilMultinational environmental advocacy group focused on grassroots activism and legislative actionGo to source} Avoid using them on your dog.
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Small dogs, or those that are young, old, or sick, can develop severe reactions to flea preventatives.^{[31]XTrustworthy SourceNational Resources Defence CouncilMultinational environmental advocacy group focused on grassroots activism and legislative actionGo to source} Speak with your veterinarian before administering any flea preventative.
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