My dog has tapeworms. Is garlic a safe and effective treatment?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | American Pit Bull Terrier | Male | 5 months and 20 days old
is garlic okay for dogs? I use it to treat tapeworm and fleas and it seems to start to be working to expell the tapeworms. Which over the counter dewormers did not work for my dog. He would get tapeworms again a few weeks later after treatment. I feel the garlic treatment would be healther for him at this point. Is it safe?
3 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on February 3rd, 2017
No, please do not give Champ garlic. Garlic is toxic to dogs, and even small amounts can cause toxicity in the form of anemia. The reason why OTC dewormers didn't work to treat the tapeworms is because they don't contain the medication needed to treat them. Praziquantel is required to treat tapeworms, and that is available by prescription only. I would have Champ seen by your vet to get Drontal, which is an excellent deworming treatment and kills tapeworms.
4Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on
Dogs get tapeworms from ingesting fleas. If you want to get rid of the tapeworms than you will need to get rid of the fleas. You should treat your dog with a monthly flea prevention, like NexGard, Frontline, Revolution. You will also need to treat your house for fleas. Garlic can be toxic to dogs so I do not recommend giving your dog garlic. He should be treated with a dewormer, like Drontal to get rid of the tapeworms. Treating the fleas and tapeworms at the same time with appropriate medication should help get rid of both.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on September 4th, 2017
Hi and thank you for your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Unfortunately there is no research or evidence to support the use of pumpkin seeds or garlic as a treatment for tapeworms or roundworms in dogs. In addition, garlic is toxic to dogs as it can cause hemolytic anemia and should be avoided. The broken segments of the tapeworm or roundworms will still remain in Cookie's intestinal tract until they come out again or die off. The below medications would be my suggestion for treatment of tapeworms or roundworms in dogs (both you can obtain from your veterinarian). An injection or tablet of praziquantel will be a one and done treatment for tapeworms. Sometimes a second injection or tablet will be given but often times, this product will get rid of the tapeworms in one use. You may not see tapeworms in the stool during treatment as the medication breaks down the outside of the worm. Pyrantel is a roundworm dewormer that should be given every 2-3 weeks until a negative fecal sample is obtained. Generally roundworm infection in adult dogs will be cleared in 2 doses of the pyrantel. You may seem worms in his stool during treatment. I would recommend treatment with you veterinarian on this one. I hope this will help you and Cookie. I wish you both the very best!
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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