Whipworms are intestinal parasites that infect dogs and feed on their blood, causing disease, irritation, and other uncomfortable symptoms. In this post, our West Chester vets explain the causes, signs, treatment, and prevention of whipworm in dogs.
Whipworm in Dogs
The whipworm is one of the four most common intestinal parasites diagnosed in dogs. Measuring about 1/4 inch long, they attach to the mucosal lining and can be found in both the large intestine and colon. They can seriously harm your pup's health and cause significant gastrointestinal inflammation, which leads to diarrhea.
What Whipworms Look Like
This intestinal parasite can be easily identified by its shape. Look for a thicker front end and a long, thin back end that resembles a whip.
Whipworm Symptoms in Dogs
If your dog has recently contracted a whipworm infection, you may not notice any signs. Some dogs may even remain asymptomatic (not display any symptoms) into the later stages of infection. That being said, some common symptoms to watch for include:
- Anemia
- Chronic diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Dehydration
- Blood in stool
What Causes Whipworm Infections in Dogs?
A dog who licks or ingests dirt, feces from other dogs, or substances contaminated with whipworm eggs can contract this parasitic infection.
The Whipworm Life Cycle in Dogs
A whipworm's life cycle has three stages: egg, larvae, and adult. Eggs are laid in a dog's intestine and then make their way into your pooch's stool. This means that infected dogs can spread whipworm to others every time they have a bowel movement. These eggs are incredibly resilient and can remain alive for up to five years in the environment.
Once out in the world, the eggs typically mature into the infective stage within about 10-60 days, at which point they infect the next host animal. Soon after a dog ingests whipworms, the eggs hatch and mature in the pet's intestine, where they lay more eggs and start the cycle once again.
Diagnosing Whipworm Infections
Having a fecal exam performed at your vet's office is the best way to monitor your dog for intestinal parasites including whipworms. Whipworms take up to 12 weeks to mature and begin laying eggs and tend to lay limited numbers of eggs on an inconsistent basis. For these reasons, diagnosis can be tricky and may require repeated fecal exams to reach an accurate diagnosis.
Treating Whipworm in Dogs
Because whipworm eggs are so resilient, reinfection often occurs making whipworms a challenging parasite to get rid of.
Treatments for whipworms in dogs will consist of prescriptions of medications to kill the parasites as they live and feed in your dog's intestine. If necessary, further medications may be needed to treat uncomfortable symptoms your dog may be experiencing.
Most medications prescribed to help treat whipworms will require treatments about a month apart. To help prevent reinfection, you should make sure you thoroughly clean your dog's kennel area, bedding, and yard. Your vet may also advise that you retreat your dog every 4 months to help fight reinfections in the near future.
Preventing Whipworm in Dogs
Preventing whipworm is far easier and more effective than treatment in most cases. Many heartworm medications for dogs will also protect against whipworms. By providing your pet with monthly heartworm medication, you could also be helping to protect your pet against a host of intestinal parasites, including whipworms, hookworms, and roundworms. Ask your vet for information on how best to protect your dog.
Here at West Chester Veterinary Medical Center, we are proud to be able to offer a selection of prevention products to help protect your dog against intestinal parasites.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.