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Can puppies get tapeworms from mom's milk? How fast do dewormers work?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Jack Russell Terrier | Female | unspayed | 4 months and 3 days old | 12 lbs

Can puppies get tapeworms from their mother's milk? My dog doesn't have any fleas, so i'm trying to figure out how she would have them. Also, can it take 12-13 days for a dewormer to work completely on adult tapeworms? She is releasing a lot more at this point 12 days after deworming.

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1 Answer

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Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Published on June 23rd, 2019

No they can't, only roundworms can be transmitted this way. Dewormers usually kill the tapeworms within 48 hours max, unless you have used a cheap over the counter dewormer (always buy your dewormers from the vet to assure using a high quality one).

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