In turn, tapeworm eggs are often consumed by fleas, making them carriers. An infection occurs when your pet eats the infected fleas. The tapeworm larvae develop into adults in your pet's intestine and shed more egg segments. Signs of Tapeworm Infection Because tapeworms irritate your pet's intestine and reduce food absorption, they may cause weight loss or loose stools. More often, there are no symptoms at all.
Owners usually detect a tapeworm infection by seeing small rice-like segments around the anal area.
If your pet is exposed to fleas or if it hunts outside, regularly look for tapeworm segments in your pet's stool, and around the anus. In a fresh stool, these segments may be alive and moving. In older stools, or around the pet's bedding, they look like grains of rice. If your pet has fleas, he is at risk of a tapeworm problem. Begin a flea control program to prevent flea-carried tapeworm infections.