Drugs to Treat Canine Tapeworms

Discovering your dog's tapeworm infestation often occurs by finding flat, segmented tapeworms in your dog's stool or anal area The next step is getting rid of them and preventing reinfestation. Fortunately, effective medications, oral or injectable, exist that treat tapeworms, according to Cornell University. Preventing the most common cause of reinfestation requires flea and lice control, according to Vetinfo. Preventing reinfestation may also require that you prevent your dog from eating infected sources such as wild rabbits and infected sheep, according to Newman Veterinary Medical Services. Treatment and dosages for existing tapeworms varies depending on factors such as the type of tapeworm, health, weight and age of the dog.

  1. Praziquantel

    • Praziquantel, the most commonly prescribed canine tapeworm medication, causes changes in the tapeworm that allows the dog to digest it. According to Vetinfo, pregnant dogs should not take praziquantel. This medication treats flea tapeworms as well as tapeworms from secondary mammal hosts including rabbits, moose, deer and both types of sheep tapeworms--taenia multiceps and taenia hydatigena. The medication comes in oral and injectable forms.

    Niclosamide

    • Niclosamide, an oral medication, treats flea and secondary mammal host tapeworms in dogs. Contact with niclosamide kills tapeworms. According to Pet Informed, the drug works safely but not highly effectively for killing flea tapeworms. Because of safety levels, some veterinarians prescribe it instead of praziquantel for sick or pregnant dogs.

    Fenbendazole and Mebendazole

    • Both fenbendazole and mebendazole medications treat tapeworms caused by your dog ingesting flea or secondary mammal hosts. These oral medications kill tapeworms by stopping the worms from absorbing glucose. The tapeworms cannot absorb nutrition, which causes them to starve to death, according to Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU.)

    Epsiprantel

    • Epsiprantel works to kill tapeworms from fleas and rabbits, according to SWOSU. According to Vetinfo, appropriate use of the medication requires the dog to be at least 8 weeks old. Epsiprantel comes in tablet form for oral administration.

    Bunamidine HCL

    • Bunamidine hydrochloride treats canine tapeworm infestation from flea, rabbit, sheep moose and deer hosts. Administration includes either oral or subcutaneous injection. According to SWOSU, although the exact way it works is unknown, the medication kills tapeworms by starvation through preventing glucose uptake.

    Dichlorophene

    • Dichlorophene, an oral medication, kills tapeworms caused by eating infected rabbits, sheep, moose and deer, according to SWOSU. Common usage involves combining dichlorophene with other medications to kill tapeworms. This medication often causes diarrhea.