Tapeworms Tapeworms are commonly found in adult dogs and cats and can be difficult to eradicate.
Tapeworms are long, flat, ribbon-like and can be less than an inch to several feet long.
They are made up of several segments, with each segment containing hundreds of eggs. Signs of tapeworm infection in the dog or cat are sometimes very subtle. They may show signs of weight loss and unthriftiness despite a good appetite. Most often the owner sees the tapeworm segments in their pet's feces or at the base of their tail where they look like flat grains of white rice. Their are several different types of tapeworm, but the most common one of dogs and cats is transmitted by fleas.