When you decide to adopt a pet, you have to take into consideration a few factors that should be prevented or satisfied to improve the well-being and quality of your dog’s life, such as giving them the type of food they need, providing regular veterinary check ups, exercising every day and other treatments that are necessary.
Whipworms in dogs sound like something terrifying and you should do your best to keep your beloved furry friend away from this disease. Whipworms are intestinal parasites that can grow in dogs. “They are parasitic nematodes and, therefore, cousins to hookworms and roundworms, [as well as] nonparasitic worms, such as earthworms,” says Rick Marrinson, DVM, of Longwood Veterinary Clinic in Longwood, Florida.
According to Dr. Marrinson, a member of the board of directors for the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), whipworms can lay tiny microscopic eggs and can be found in dogs, foxes and coyotes, and once hatched, they will live in the colon or large intestine of their host.
Read on for more info about these parasites and find out how to prevent them!
What are whipworms?
According to animal experts, whipworms are treatable parasites, so you can prevent them as well. These whipworms are scientifically called Trichuris vulpis and are some of the most common intestinal parasites that can live in the dog’s intestines. Whipworms live in the cecum and colon (large intestine) and can lead to serious complications if left untreated. These parasites get their name from their shape.
There are three stages of the whipworm life cycle, namely egg, larvae and the adult stage. The adult will lay eggs in your dog’s large intestine, and then they are passed into the feces, infecting the waste. In this environment, eggs will transform into larvae and are ready to re-infect your dog – or other dogs if they are ingested. According to experts, whipworms eggs can live in dog feces for many years, waiting for a new host.
“Once in the environment, the eggs are very resistant to drying, temperature extremes and ultraviolet radiation,” Dr. Marrinson says. “They can remain viable in the environment for years. Animals are exposed when they ingest the eggs from the ground and soil or from eating the stool of an infected animal.”
These parasites can only be found in dogs, foxes and coyotes, so don’t worry, because you are safe. “Many mammals, including humans, have their own species of whipworm,” Dr. Marrinson says. “The whipworm found in dogs is thought to rarely if ever, infect humans.”
Signs and symptoms of whipworms in dogs
It is quite difficult for a pet owner to notice when their dogs are suffering from whipworms, but in some cases, if your dog is sick, they will experience an upset lower G.I. tract and will defecate in your house.
A whipworm infection can cause a variety of symptoms, ranging from mild to severe. So, the most common symptoms of whipworms include diarrhea that often contains either bright-red blood or mucus, straining to defecate, frequent attempts to defecate, an urgency to defecate, painful defecation, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, anemia, dehydration and unexpected weight loss.
“This urgency [to defecate] often causes dogs to have inappropriate bowel movements in the house,” Dr. Marrinson says.
Therefore, if you notice any of these symptoms in your dog’s behavior, try to talk to your vet as soon as possible and schedule a consultation, because he or she will help you with the right treatment for your beloved dog. Do not waste time, because these symptoms of whipworm infection can cause many other severe problems.
How can whipworms be diagnosed?
Unfortunately, many pet owners don’t detect whipworms in their dogs, as most of them don’t show any symptoms. However, the only person who is able to detect and diagnose this whipworm infection is your veterinarian and is the only one who can prescribe an appropriate treatment. So, if you want to make sure that your pet is safe, you should schedule a consultation and talk to your vet about this potential problem.
“While pet parents would readily recognize the symptoms associated with colitis, it would be impossible for an owner to know if those symptoms are caused by whipworms,” Dr. Marrinson says.
Even though it may seem disgusting, you can actually collect a sample of your furry friend’s feces and then take it to your vet for a thorough analysis, which will lead to an accurate diagnosis. What is actually the analysis process? The dog’s stool sample is treated with a special solution and examined under a microscope by your vet. They will immediately see if your dog is suffering from whipworms or not.
“Whipworms can be difficult to diagnose because the females are not prolific egg producers,” Dr. Marrinson says. “Therefore, it is hard to reliably find the eggs, even if the dog is infected.”
How can whipworms be treated?
As we said before, whipworms are treatable. “There are a variety of safe and effective treatments for whipworms,” Dr. Marrinson says. “Veterinarians sometimes choose to treat a patient with colitis for whipworms on the mere suspicion of a whipworm infection, even if the intestinal parasite screen showed no parasites. This is especially true if the patient is not on parasite preventive medication.”
Your veterinarian will prescribe parasite pet meds that are right for your dog. It’s very important to consult your veterinarian before giving your dog any treatment.
“Your veterinarian is the best local source for information on available products and risks in your area,” Dr. Marrinson says.
Can we prevent whipworms?
Of course. All you have to do is to take your dog to the vet regularly and give them parasite preventives prescribed by your vet.
“Administering parasite preventive medication every 30 days all year long is a critical factor in keeping your pet healthy,” Dr. Marrinson says. “Some, but not all, parasite preventive medications are effective at preventing whipworms,” so you should consult your vet first.
“Good sanitation, such as picking up and safely disposing of feces, are important steps,” said Dr. Marrinson.