- Whipworms are Common Intestinal Parasites in Dogs - ltshears
Whipworms are intestinal parasites or worms which live in the large intestine of the dog. While they are common in dogs, they are found very rarely in cats.
How are Whipworms Acquired by Dogs?
Dogs are exposed to whipworms through contaminated soil. When a dog is infected with whipworms, these adult whipworms lay eggs which are passed out of the intestinal tract through the feces. It is these eggs which contaminate the soil.
The most common way for a dog to become infected with whipworms is by grooming himself and ingesting contaminated dirt from his feet or haircoat.
Once contaminated, it is very difficult to clear the whipworm eggs out of the soil. The worms are very hardy and difficult to impossible to kill.
How are Whipworms Diagnosed in Dogs?
Whipworms are diagnosed by an analysis of a dog's feces. Microscopic analysis of feces is necessary to diagnose whipworms and your veterinarian has methods available to concentrate the feces so that whipworm eggs are more easily located in the fecal sample.
The problem with relying solely on fecal analysis for detection of whipworms is the fact that whipworms are shed intermittently and may not always be present in a fecal sample. Therefore, it is not unusual for a veterinarian to advise treatment for whipworms if whipworm infection is suspected in a dog even when confirmation of the infection is not available.
What Kinds of Symptoms do Whipworms Cause in Dogs?
Whipworms live in the cecum and large intestine of the dog and are capable of producing a large amount of inflammation in these areas.
The most common sign seen with whipworm infection in dogs is diarrhea. Often, the feces will have blood mixed in it as well. Generally, blood loss resulting from whipworm infection is not severe or life-threatening, but the resulting diarrhea can easily become a chronic problem.
Occasionally, dogs infected with whipworms may develop a form of disease which comes and goes intermittently. These dogs are unable to regulate the salt concentration in their bodies. Decreasing salt concentration eventually leads to dehydration, which makes the condition of the infected dog even worse. This disease course may mimic that of a disease known as Addison's disease or hypoadrenocorticism.
How are Whipworm Infections Treated in Dogs?
Whipworm infections in dogs can be treated with a few different medications. The most common are:
- fenbendazole
- febantel
- ivermectin
There are a few of the monthly heartworm prevention medications which can also help prevent whipworms and these include:
- Interceptor
- Sentinel
Heartgard and other monthly heartworm prevention medications which contain ivermectin are generally not effective in controlling whipworms because the concentration of ivermectin in these products is not high enough to kill whipworms. Ivermectin at higher dosages is used occasionally to treat whipworms, but should be used with caution in collies and collie breeds as some of these dogs have a genetic mutation which makes them dangerously sensitive to ivermectin in higher dosages.
Treatment for whipworms usually needs to be repeated at least 65-90 days after the initial treatment. Many veterinarians advise another treatment in between these dosages as well.
