Will Wormer From the Store Kill Tapeworms in Puppies?

Tapeworms prevent puppies from receiving proper nutrition. One of the main signs puppy owners notice is that their canine companion is always hungry but isn't gaining weight. Tapeworms, like other worms, can cause a bloated appearance and you can often observe segments of the adult tapeworms in the puppy's feces or around its anus. Tapeworm infestations look similar to other worm infestations and the only way to obtain a definitive diagnosis is through laboratory testing. While most effective wormers for tapeworms are available only as a prescription, a few are available over-the-counter.

  1. Tapeworm Basics

    • Tapeworms are flat, segmented intestinal parasites with suckers that allow the worm to attach to the animal's intestinal tract. For a puppy to catch tapeworms, it must ingest the eggs or larvae of the worms. Tapeworms transmit between species and via intermediate hosts. Fleas, fish, wild animals and some domestic animals all act as hosts for tapeworms. When a dog ingests a flea or part of a wild animal, it ingests the tapeworm eggs. Once inside the dog, the eggs hatch and grow into adults. There are multiple species of tapeworms, each with a preferred definitive and intermediate host. Dipylidium caninum, Taenia hydatigena, T. krabbei, T. multiceps, T. ovis, T. pisiformis, T. serialis, Echinococcus granulosus, E. multiocularis, Diphyllobothrium latum and Spirometra mansonoides all affect dogs, though Dipylidium caninum tapeworms are the most common.

    Wormers

    • Not all wormers work for all types of intestinal parasites. Wormers affective against hookworms and roundworms don't usually contain the proper chemicals to rid puppies of tapeworms. Two chemicals are effective at treating tapeworms in puppies: praziquantel and febendazole. Most preparations containing these chemicals are available by prescription only. The only over-the-counter wormer containing praziquantel approved for sale in the U.S. is marketed under the brand name of Trade Winds and is available as a pill. Panacur-C is a powdered solution containing febendazole and is effective against hookworms, roundworms and whipworms in addition to tapeworms. Safe-Guard is an over-the-counter febendazole paste. Both praziquantel and febendazole are effective against all types of tapeworms affecting dogs.

    Considerations

    • Puppies with a severe infestation of tapeworms may need to be treated up to a week after the first dose of wormer. Since tapeworms spread via an intermediate host, it is imperative to remove or minimize contact with the intermediate host to prevent re-infestation. Many puppies catch tapeworms from fleas. Eliminating fleas from your animal's environment and applying a flea repellent prevents future tapeworm infestations.

    Warning

    • Not all wormers are suitable for every dog. Some over-the-counter worming medicines have a minimum age limit. Consult your wormer's product label for use instructions. Even though they are sold over-the-counter, wormers used to treat tapeworms do have side effects. Though rare, some dogs may experience vomiting, nausea, increased thirst, diarrhea and lethargy. Any dog can develop an allergic reaction to praziquantel or febendazole. Signs of an allergic reaction include swelling, hives, sock, seizure, coma or death. In the event of an allergic reaction or if mild to moderate side effects persist for more than 24 hours, seek emergency veterinary medical attention.