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Tapeworms are not usually harmful to your pet, although, if your pet is heavily infected, she may lose weight. Your pet gets tapeworm by swallowing a flea infected with a tapeworm larvae. A dog or cat may swallow a flea while self-grooming. Once the flea is digested inside the dog or cat, the larval tapeworm is free to develop into an adult tapeworm.

Dipylidium tapeworm eggs are rarely released into the feces and are therefore not usually detected by routine fecal exams performed by your veterinarian. Because of this, veterinarians depend on you to notify them of possible tapeworm infection in your cat or dog. Sometimes, an infected dog will "scoot" or drag its anus across the ground or carpet because the segments are irritating to the skin in this area. At times the worms can be seen crawling near the anus or on the surface of a fresh bowel movement.

Occasionally, a portion of this tapeworm will be passed when the dog vomits. If this happens, a worm several inches in length may be seen. The dried worms are small (about 2 mm), hard and yellowish in color and can sometimes be seen stuck to the hair around the pet's anus.

The risk of infection with this tapeworm in humans is low. Most reported cases involve children. The most effective way to prevent infections in pets and humans is through flea control. A child who is infected will usually pass worms (or what appears as rice) in a bowel movement or will have them stuck to the skin around the anal area.

It's simple to treat tapeworm. A prescription drug called praziquantel is given, either orally or, in pets, by injection. The drugs are generally well-tolerated, but prevention is better than cure. Keep your pet free of fleas. Clean up after your pet, especially in playgrounds and public parks. Bury the feces, or place it in a plastic bag and then put it in the trash. Do not allow children to play in areas that are soiled with pet or other animal feces. Teach children to always wash their hands after playing with dogs and cats, and after playing outdoors.

Information derived from The Centers for Disease Control

All laws that pertain to the dispensing of medication apply.
In some cases, allow three to four days delivery time.
Pet medications, such as heartworm medication, that require a prescription must be accompanied by a veterinarian's phone number. Flea and tick treatments such as Frontline® and Advantic® do not require a prescription.

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