Raw Pumpkin Seeds (Cucurbita) are relatively inexpensive and as far as I have seen in the articles online, has few and minor side effects. Many articles mention pumpkin seeds as a natural food used to kill tapeworms.  There are also no cautions against being used in pregnant bitches, either.

According to the literature, the active ingredient cucurbitin, provides a potent reaction when used against tapeworms and also shows some activity against pinworms.

Dosing Pumpkin Seeds To Kill Tapeworms

Another study demonstrated that 32 grams (approximately 1 oz) in 100 ml of water ( approximately 3 oz) killed both tapeworms and their eggs after one dose in approximately 38.4 minutes.

(Don’t ‘cha just love the “approximate” of 38.4 minutes? And I thought I was OCD!).

The only side effect noted was non-erosive gastritis in rats at that dose.

Doses for canines I’ve found are: from 60 grams, (2 oz) to up to 500 grams (18 oz) of seeds per dose, depending on the size of the pup, and are usually administered three times a day until the pet is rid of its parasites. 

For humans I have seen doses from 2 tablespoons to ¼ – ½ cup of seeds a day, all the way up to 25 oz daily recommended. Considering most people are bigger than shelties, I would use that as the maximum dose needed.

It seems mixing it with hot water seems to be another common recommendation.

Keep Those Tapeworms Movin’ OUT

While the scientific studies didn’t mention the need for a laxative to move the tapeworms out of the intestines, it probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to use a natural laxative afterwards as some herbal websites suggest if you are using it on a once and done type of treatment.

The rationale for the laxative is the belief that pumpkin seeds only temporarily paralyze the worms not actually kill them dead. Why take chances when a simple addition of canned pumpkin will probably do the trick?

One web article stated to use no more than 2 teaspoons of canned pumpkin for laxative for dogs. Or an alternative would be ½ – 1 ½ teaspoons of oils like olive oil, safflower oil or Castor oil.

While humans can probably just munch on the seeds, dogs don’t have the teeth to crush and mash the seeds up sufficiently, so putting them in a blender, coffee grinder or food processor seems the best way to go about it. This is how I prepare pumpkin seeds with other supplements for my pups.

But Does It Work?

For how long should you use it? Don’t know. I have yet to find a dog with tapeworm to try it on, so I could run a few fecal floatation slides to verify what they have and then retest after a few days.

Until I do have something definitive, I’m adding pumpkin seeds for tapeworms to the regular diet a few times a week.

In addition to ridding the dog of tapeworms, you can feel good knowing you are giving your dog unsaturated fatty acids, carbohydrates, amino acids and vitamins C, D, E, K and Vitamin B, calcium, phosphorous and potassium.

ADDENDUM: If you feed dogs whole pumpkin seeds, they will poop them out just as whole as when they swallowed them… just FYI. So grind them up fine before feeding. How do I know this? Been there, done that.