Tapeworm Segment (Proglottid)
Scientific Name: Dipylidium caninum (most common species in pets)
Order & Family: Order: Cyclophyllidea / Family: Dipylidiidae
Size: Segments are typically rice-sized or cucumber-seed-sized, about 3-12 mm in length.
Natural Habitat
Adults live in the intestines of dogs and cats; segments are found on bedding, carpets, or pet fur around the anus.
Diet & Feeding
The adult tapeworm absorbs nutrients directly from the host's intestinal tract; the segment itself does not eat but contains eggs.
Behavior Patterns
These segments detach from the adult worm and exit the host via the anus. Fresh segments are capable of moving by expanding and contracting. As they dry out, they resemble grains of rice or sesame seeds and break open to release eggs.
Risks & Benefits
Risk to pets involves weight loss and anal irritation (scooting). Humans can be infected if they accidentally ingest a flea carrying the larvae (rare), but the segments themselves are not directly infectious to humans without an intermediate host (the flea).
Identified on: 2/28/2026