How to Prevent Tapeworms in a Dog

Tapeworms pose a serious health hazard to dogs. Tapeworms are long and flat and can live in a dog's intestine. A dog contracts tapeworms when it ingests a flea that ate a tapeworm egg or when the dog eats a rabbit or other small mammal that ate a tapeworm egg. Treating your entire property for fleas is a must if you want to prevent your dog from getting tapeworms.

Things You'll Need

  • Flea removal shampoo
  • Flea collar
  • Veterinarian
  • Vacuum cleaner
  • Garbage bag
  • Insecticide
  • Fencing
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Instructions

    • 1

      Keep your dog away from flea-infested animals. If you have multiple animals in your household, separate and treat each animal for fleas promptly.

    • 2

      Treat your dog for fleas. Bathe your dog with a flea removal shampoo and place a reputable flea collar around its neck as soon as it thoroughly dries from the bath. Take your dog to a veterinarian if the bath and flea collar doesn't rid the fleas from your dog or if your dog is suffering a severe flea infestation. The veterinarian may give your dog a treated bath and possibly prescription medication to treat the fleas.

    • 3

      Treat your home and yard for fleas. Vacuum your entire house multiple times per day. Focus extra attention in areas where your dog sleeps or visit's the most. Remove the bag from your vacuum and place it in a secure garbage bag immediately. Tie the bag into a secure knot to prevent any of the captured fleas inside the bag from escaping and reinfesting your property. Spray a store-brand insecticide on your lawn to get rid of any fleas that may be living in your yard. Read and follow all insecticide label directions carefully before applying the product to your yard.

    • 4

      Confine your dog to a fenced-in yard to prevent it from hunting and eating wild animals, such as mice, rats or rabbits, that commonly carry tapeworms. A dog that hunts on its own likely will develop tapeworms as a result, according to the Purdue University.

    • 5

      Take your dog to a veterinarian for regular tapeworm testing. Tapeworms can be treated effectively if caught early.