Diagnosis of Tapeworms in Dogs

Diagnosis of many canine intestinal worms is done by a method known as a faecal flotation. In this method, a portion of the dog’s faeces is mixed up with some saline solution and then a drop of this solution is placed on a slide and examined under a microscope for the presence of different worm eggs.

Because Tapeworm eggs tend to be contained within segments of the tapeworm, a faecal floatation examination generally will not show any tapeworm eggs, even if the dog is infected with the parasite. The most definitive way of diagnosing infection is from the vet or owner visualizing Tapeworm segments (“rice grains”) in the dog’s faeces or around the anal region.

-Dr Caroline