These proglottid segments look like grains of cooked white rice. Less commonly, they are seen crawling around the cat s anus. Each of these proglottid capsules contains up to 20 tapeworm eggs. Be aware that tapeworms are not readily diagnosed with routine fecal examinations. Because of this, you should notify your veterinarian when tapeworm segments are found in your cat s stool.
Available treatments are safe and effective.
After treatment, the tapeworm dies and is usually digested within the intestine, so worm segments don t usually pass into the stool. Side-effects, such as vomiting and diarrhea , are rarely reported with the newer medications. Control of fleas is the cornerstone of preventing tapeworm infection. With the new and exciting flea control products which have become available, this is now much easier than in years past. Depending on the type of product you use and the presence of other pets in your home, your veterinarian will help you decide whether you also need to treat your house and yard for fleas.