Tapeworm / hydatid in dogs – signs and where it occurs

Updated 2026-09-30 · 2 sources

Based on: ESCCAP, ESCCAP UK & Ireland

Book a vet visit

Book a vet appointment if you think your dog has this – a vet needs to confirm it and plan the treatment. It is a tapeworm infection that dogs can get through raw offal or carcasses, and people can be infected too.

What to do now

What you can do now

  1. Contact your vet.
  2. Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
  3. Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
  4. Keep fresh water available.
  5. Let your dog rest somewhere calm.

Don't

  • Do not give any human medicine.
  • Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it is and how it spreads

It is a tapeworm infection linked with dogs that have access to offal or livestock carcasses in areas endemic for Echinococcus granulosus.[1] In Europe, it occurs in areas endemic for Echinococcus granulosus, and in the UK the listed areas are Wales, the Welsh Borders and the Hebrides.[2]

Signs

  • Usually no signs

How pets pick it up

  • Raw offal
  • Carcasses

Where in Europe it occurs

CountryOccurrence
ItalyCommon (endemic)
PortugalCommon (endemic)
RomaniaCommon (endemic)
SpainCommon (endemic)
PolandPresent
United KingdomPresent

What the experts say

“In areas endemic for Echinococcus granulosus, dogs with access to offal or livestock carcasses should be treated with a product effective against this parasite at least every six weeks.”

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

Get it on Google Play

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

Which dogs are highlighted in endemic areas?

Dogs with access to offal or livestock carcasses are highlighted.[1]

Is it linked with offal or carcasses?

Yes. The guidance refers to dogs with access to offal or livestock carcasses in endemic areas.[1]

Which parts of the UK are listed?

The listed areas are Wales, the Welsh Borders and the Hebrides.[2]

Sources

  1. ESCCAP
  2. ESCCAP UK & Ireland

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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