Whipworms are a common parasite that makes a home in the large intestine and cecum of dogs, causing irritation and leading to a host of uncomfortable symptoms. Today, our Seymour vets explain more about whipworms in dogs including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
What is whipworm in dogs?
Whipworms (Trichuris vulpis) are intestinal parasites that can have a negative impact on your dog's overall health. These parasites, which are about a quarter of an inch long, live in your dog's large intestine and cecum, where they attach to the mucosal lining and cause extensive irritation.
What do whipworms look like?
This intestinal parasite can be easily identified by its shape. They have a thicker front end and a long thin back end that look much like a whip.
What is the whipworm lifecycle in dogs?
A whipworm's lifecycle consists of three stages: egg, larvae, and adult. The eggs are laid in the dog's intestine and become part of the dog's stool. This means that a whipworm-infected dog spreads whipworm eggs with each bowel movement. The eggs are extremely hardy and can survive in the environment for up to 5 years.
Once out in the world, the eggs typically mature into the infective stage in about 10-60 days, at which point they are ready to infect the next host animal. Soon after they are ingested they hatch and mature in the pet's intestine where they lay more eggs and begin the cycle once again.
What are the symptoms of whipworm in dogs?
If your dog was recently infected, there will likely be few signs of a whipworm infection, and some dogs will remain asymptomatic even in the later stages of infection (show no symptoms). However, some of the most common whipworm symptoms in dogs are as follows:
- Chronic diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Blood in stool
- Anemia
How are whipworms in dogs diagnosed?
Fecal exams at your vet's office are 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.
What is the treatment for whipworm in dogs?
Because whipworm eggs are so resilient, reinfection often occurs making whipworms a challenging parasite to get rid of.
Whipworm treatment for dogs includes prescription medications to kill the parasites living in your dog's intestine, as well as additional medications to treat any uncomfortable symptoms your dog may be experiencing. Most whipworm medications in dogs require two treatments spaced about 3-4 weeks apart. It will be necessary to thoroughly clean your dog's bedding, kennel area, and dog run to help prevent reinfection. Your veterinarian may also advise you to re-treat your dog every 3-4 months to help fight reinfections.
Can I prevent my dog from getting whipworm?
Yes! Prevention is far easier and more effective than treatment in most cases. But first, let's talk about what causes whipworm in dogs. Dogs get whipworms from soil or other substances containing dog feces. Keep your yard clean of dog feces to protect your dog.
Many heartworm medications for dogs 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.
At Seymour Veterinary Hospital we also 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.