How Do Canine Whipworms Originate?

Whipworms are one of the four most common intestinal parasites that occur in dogs, earning their name due to their whip-like body. Dogs become infested with whipworms by ingesting parasite eggs from the environment, which then hatch and release infective larvae into the intestines. The larvae then mature and burrow into the intestinal wall, which may cause your dog to feel sick. Fortunately, whipworm infestation is a treatable and preventable condition.

  1. Origin of Whipworm Infestation

    • Whipworm eggs pass into the environment in the feces of an infested dog, where they can live for up to five years. Therefore, dogs can easily come in contact with whipworm eggs, particularly in places where other dogs frequent. Your pooch may ingest eggs by eating grass or other debris on the ground, or may swallow eggs while grooming himself after playing in an area where eggs are present. Once your dog swallows the eggs, they hatch and the released larvae begin to mature. Mature worms will burrow into the wall of the large intestine (usually the cecum) using their mouths, sucking blood and affecting the absorption of nutrients. Approximately three months after eggs are first ingested by an affected dog, the mature worms in the intestines will begin laying eggs that then pass into the environment through the dog's "No. 2," perpetuating the cycle.

    Symptoms

    • Some dogs with whipworm infestations will show no signs of illness. However, if your dog has a large number of worms present, symptoms can be severe. The most common sign is diarrhea, possibly with blood present. Affected dogs may also show signs of weight loss, dull hair coat, dehydration due to severe diarrhea, anemia (low red blood cell count) and, in extreme cases, death. Dogs may also suffer from abdominal pain, bloating or prolapse of the rectum due to straining. In rare cases, dogs can be diagnosed with a syndrome known as pseudo-Addison̵7;s disease, in which the sodium and potassium levels in the blood become so abnormal that a state of shock can result.

    Diagnosis

    • Whipworms are not usually seen in the feces due to their very small size, so this is an unreliable way to look for infestation. A fecal float, in which your veterinarian looks for the presence of eggs in a fresh sample of feces from your dog, is the best diagnostic tool. Female whipworms do not shed eggs constantly, so it is possible for your dog to be infested and yet still have a negative fecal float result. If whipworms are strongly suspected as the cause of your dog̵7;s symptoms yet the fecal float is negative, recheck floats should be performed at a later date to look for eggs.

    Treatment and Prevention

    • Medication to treat whipworms is available from your veterinarian, and the first dose will begin the process of eliminating the adult worms. However, in order to eliminate worms that have not yet matured, another dose of medication must be administered one to three months later. You may also need to repeat treatment if your dog continues to live in an environment where the eggs are present. To prevent infestation once your dog is treated, talk to your vet about a suitable monthly heartworm preventative that contains medication to prevent whipworms. You may also choose to walk your dog on concrete, rocks or sand, as the eggs cannot survive in these substrates. Once infestations are treated, the clinical symptoms resolve and your dog can return to his normal life. Fortunately, you cannot contract whipworms from your dog (although you can get them from the environment via infected soil).