These are the parasites you can actually see in the stool. They are often described as looking like "rice". They are a low level health risk, however many owners find them gross and very unappealing to look at.

The flea is considered an intermediate host to the tapeworm (for the tapeworms development it must go through the flea first then to the animal to fully devlop). The pet ingests the flea primarily through the chewing and licking from the allergic response to the bite.

The tapeworm finishes devlopment within the pet and you the owner will see it in the stool.